Save The Bay, U.S. Coast Guard call off Bay Swim for safety

PROVIDENCE – In cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, Save The Bay has called off today’s 41st annual Save The Bay Swim in an abundance of caution for swimmer safety, as a developing Nor’easter is forecast to bring sustained winds of 10-15 knots and gusts of up to 30 knots, patches of fog and two- to three-foot waves. Save The Bay and the U.S. Coast Guard have determined that forecasted water conditions for the 1.7-nautical-mile course across the East Passage of Narragansett Bay will be unsafe for swimmers and kayakers.

“We are disappointed to have to call off the Swim, but safety is always our first concern. We know how hard our swimmers have trained and how hard they have worked to raise funds for our efforts to protect the Bay,” said Save The Bay Executive Director Jonathan Stone.

The cancellation has not stopped nearly 380 registered swimmers from raising almost $200,000 to support clean water in Narragansett Bay. “We are grateful to our swimmers, kayakers and hundreds of sponsors for their generous contributions, 100 percent of which supports Save The Bay’s education programs, habitat restoration work and advocacy efforts on behalf of the Bay,” Stone said.

The event itself is made possible by generous corporate sponsors. Save The Bay thanks Bradford Soap and Amica for their signature sponsorship of the event this year, as well as additional sponsors A1 Roofing and Construction, AAA Northeast, Bank Newport, BayCoast Bank, Caster Communications, Inc, Perform Better, SRP Strategic Retirement Partners, and University Medicine.

The 42nd Save The Bay Swim will be held on Saturday, August 4, 2018.