At 8:40 a.m. on Saturday, August 6, more than 200 swimmers took to the waves of Narragansett Bay’s East Passage in support of Save The Bay’s mission to protect and improve Narragansett Bay.

The two-mile journey from the shore of the Naval War College in Newport to Potter Cove in Jamestown marked the 46th year of the nonprofit organization’s flagship fundraiser. The event invites participants to “exercise their right to a clean and healthy Bay” with a one-of-a-kind, open water, cross-Bay swim that raises awareness and funds for Save The Bay’s advocacy, education and habitat restoration and adaptation efforts. 

“The Swim gives all of us the opportunity to celebrate the recreational benefits of a clean and healthy Narragansett Bay,” said Save The Bay Executive Director—and annual Swim participant—Jonathan Stone. “This challenging, open water swim reminds us just how much has changed since the early days of Save The Bay’s advocacy when many Bay waters were too polluted for human contact. Plus,” he added, “it’s a lot of fun.”

Prior to the first of two waves of swimmers taking off from the Newport shoreline, Swim Ambassador, Olympian, and Rhode Island native Elizabeth Beisel welcomed participants to the event, saying: