Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim
Event summary
In a tribute to the fallen mariners, a limited number of 68 swimmers will embark on a once-in-a-lifetime journey, participating in a historic 17-stage, 411-mile relay swim. The route retraces the intended path of the ship, symbolically delivering iron ore pellets from the same dock in Superior, Wisconsin, where the Edmund Fitzgerald took on its last load. This unique experience not only honors the legacy of those lost but also offers swimmers the chance to be part of a documentary film, capturing the spirit of this unforgettable event. Don't miss the opportunity to make history and celebrate the resilience of the human spirit in the beautiful waters of Lake Superior!
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Races
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STAGE 1: Edmund Fitzgerald Wreck Site
Incl. $81.00 Fee & Jersey
It is planned that four relay swimmers will have the honor of ceremoniously starting the event over the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and finishing at the Whitefish Point Lighthouse and site of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. * Stage 1 requires a special permit and approval is pending at this time. Stage 1 may be waitlisted.
Entries closed7:00 AM EDT
$2,081.00
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STAGE 2: Whitefish Bay Crossing
Incl. $61.00 Fee & Jersey
Relay swimmers cross Whitefish Bay, starting at the Whitefish Point Lighthouse (and site of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum), and finishing at the Point Iroquois Lighthouse.
Entries closedMonday, Jul 28, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$1,561.00
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STAGE 3: Soo Locks
Incl. $61.00 Fee & Jersey
Relay swimmers begin at the Point Iroquois Lighthouse and enter the St. Marys River to swim to Sault Ste. Marie. Swimmers may have the chance to safely get up close and personal with massive freighters around the Soo Locks. Swimmers however, must board their support boat just before entering one of the three U.S. locks, and may return to the water just after exiting the lock. The finish line is at the William Gregory Boat Launch on the far east end of town.
Entries closedWednesday, Jul 30, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$1,561.00
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STAGE 4: Upper St. Mary's River
Incl. $38.50 Fee & Jersey
Relay swimmers will share the course with massive freighters passing between Lake Superior and Lake Huron while swimming the upper half of the St. Mary's River.
Entries closedFriday, Aug 1, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$788.50
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STAGE 5: Lower St. Mary's River
Incl. $38.50 Fee & Jersey
Relay swimmers will share the course with massive freighters while swimming the lower half of the St. Mary's River to reach Lake Huron.
Entries closedSunday, Aug 3, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$788.50
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STAGE 6: Lake Huron Crossing
Incl. $71.00 Fee & Jersey
Four relay swimmers will have bragging rights to crossing Lake Huron between Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas.
Entries closedTuesday, Aug 5, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$1,821.00
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STAGE 7: 40-Mile Point - Presque Isle
Incl. $38.50 Fee & Jersey
Kick off the lower peninsula portion of the event, swimming between Rogers City and Presque Isle ... and then some. The relay starts at the 40-Mile Point Lighthouse and finishes on the beach at Presque Isle.
Entries closedThursday, Aug 7, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$788.50
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STAGE 8: Presque Isle - Thunder Bay Island
Incl. $38.50 Fee & Jersey
Starting on the beach at Presque Isle, relay swimmers set a course for the lighthouse on Thunder Bay Island. After finishing, your support boat returns you to the mainland in Alpena.
Entries closedSaturday, Aug 9, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$788.50
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STAGE 9: Thunder Bay Crossing
Incl. $38.50 Fee & Jersey
Your support boat takes you from Alpena to Thunder Bay Island. There, the relay swim starts from the Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse, crosses the mouth of Thunder Bay, and finishes at the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse.
Entries closedMonday, Aug 11, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$788.50
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STAGE 10: Sturgeon Point - Au Sable
Incl. $38.50 Fee & Jersey
Starting at the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, relay swimmers follow the Lake Huron shoreline to finish in Au Sable.
Entries closedWednesday, Aug 13, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$788.50
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STAGE 11: Saginaw Bay Crossing
Incl. $61.00 Fee & Jersey
Starting in Au Sable and finishing in Grindstone City, 4 relay swimmers will have bragging rights to crossing the mouth of Saginaw Bay.
Entries closedFriday, Aug 15, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$1,561.00
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STAGE 12: Grindstone City - Harbor Beach
Incl. $38.50 Fee & Jersey
Four swimmers continue the relay on Michigan's thumb, starting at Grindstone City on the tip, and finishing in Harbor Beach.
Entries closedSunday, Aug 17, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$788.50
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STAGE 13: Harbor Beach - Forester / Port Sanilac
Incl. $38.50 Fee & Jersey
This relay swim along the Lake Huron shoreline starts in Harbor Beach and finishes near Port Sanilac.
Entries closedTuesday, Aug 19, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$788.50
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STAGE 14: Forester / Port Sanilac - Lexington
Incl. $26.00 Fee & Jersey
Starting north of Port Sanilac, this relay swim along the Lake Huron shoreline, finishes on the beach in Lexington.
Entries closedThursday, Aug 21, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$526.00
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STAGE 15: Lexington - Port Huron
Incl. $38.50 Fee & Jersey
Starting in Lexington and taking aim at the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, this relay swim concludes the Lake Huron portion of the event.
Entries closedSaturday, Aug 23, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$788.50
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STAGE 16: St. Clair River
Incl. $61.00 Fee & Jersey
Four relay swimmers will cross under the Blue Water Bridge in Port Huron, and have bragging rights to swimming the entire length of the St. Clair River. Your time to the finish line in Algonac will surely be impressive, due to riding the swift current. You are also likely see your share of passing freighters along the way.
Entries closedMonday, Aug 25, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$1,561.00
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STAGE 17: Lake St. Clair Crossing
Incl. $81.00 Fee & Jersey
Four relay swimmers will proudly finish the event at the Detroit Belle Isle Beach and can brag that they swam across Lake St. Clair from Algonac in doing so. These swimmers will also have the opportunity to present our cargo of iron ore to dignitaries the next day before the March to the Mariners' Church of Detroit.
Entries closedWednesday, Aug 27, 2025 (7:00 AM EDT)
$2,081.00
Organiser's description
The year 2025 marks 50 years since the _Edmund Fitzgerald_, bound for Detroit with over 26,000 tons of iron ore, went down in that horrific 1975 Lake Superior gale, taking 29 souls with her. Immortalized in Gordon Lightfoots _Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald_, this has become the world's most famous shipwreck not named _Titanic_.
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of this historic maritime tragedy and to pay tribute to the 29 lost mariners, open water swimmers plan to carry on their legacy with a 17-stage, 411-mile relay swim from the point where the _Edmund Fitzgerald_ lies in Lake Superior to Detroit. Participating swimmers will symbolically complete the intended route and cargo delivery that the ship was tragically unable to complete on that fateful night 50 years ago, by passing between them iron ore pellets from the same dock in Superior, Wisconsin, where the "Big Fitz" took on its last load.
Location
GREAT LAKES SHIPWRECK MUSEUM, 18335 N. Whitefish Point Road, Paradise, 49768, MI, United States
Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim
Event data
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