Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard Relay
- Date Tue 22nd July 2025
- Time 6:00AM EDT
- Location Edgartown, Massachusetts
- Price Free
- Races 1 race
Event summary
Get ready for an exhilarating open water challenge as the Nantucket to Martha's Vineyard Relay Swim takes place on Tuesday, July 22, 2025! This ambitious 18-mile relay swim begins at Eel Point on Nantucket and culminates at East Beach on Chappaquiddick, marking the first organized attempt to conquer this daunting crossing. Swimmers will face powerful tidal currents, navigating the waters to successfully reach their destination.
Two teams of four swimmers each will take on this incredible feat, rotating in one-hour shifts under marathon swimming rules, without wetsuits or support vessel contact. With a start time set for 6:00 a.m., participants will gather at Martha's Vineyard at 4:00 a.m. and motor over to Nantucket, ready to make history. The swim is expected to take between 8 to 10 hours, and by swimming in July, athletes will avoid peak jellyfish season while utilizing advanced e-Sharkforce technology for added safety against Great White sharks. Beyond the challenge, this event supports vital causes, with proceeds funding a learn-to-swim initiative at the YMCA of Martha's Vineyard. Join us for this unforgettable journey as we honor lives impacted by ALS and promote water safety for future generations!
Two teams of four swimmers each will take on this incredible feat, rotating in one-hour shifts under marathon swimming rules, without wetsuits or support vessel contact. With a start time set for 6:00 a.m., participants will gather at Martha's Vineyard at 4:00 a.m. and motor over to Nantucket, ready to make history. The swim is expected to take between 8 to 10 hours, and by swimming in July, athletes will avoid peak jellyfish season while utilizing advanced e-Sharkforce technology for added safety against Great White sharks. Beyond the challenge, this event supports vital causes, with proceeds funding a learn-to-swim initiative at the YMCA of Martha's Vineyard. Join us for this unforgettable journey as we honor lives impacted by ALS and promote water safety for future generations!
Organiser's Description
A Long Swim is proud to present one of the most ambitious open water challenges on the East Coast: the Nantucket to Marthas Vineyard Relay Swim, taking place in July 2025. This unprecedented 18-mile open water relayfrom Eel Point on Nantucket to East Beach on Chappaquiddickwill be the first organized attempt to complete this crossing, a feat made especially daunting by complex ocean currents and unpredictable marine life.
Unlike traditional east-to-west crossings, the greatest challenge of the N2MV swim is navigating the powerful tidal currents that run north to southsometimes reaching up to five knots. Swimmers must thread the needle, catching the right part of the currents rollercoaster to land safely on Chappaquiddick. This difficulty has foiled all previous solo attempts, including three by A Long Swims own Doug McConnell, who once came within 300 strokes of the finish before being pulled by the current.
In 2025, A Long Swim will attempt the crossing as a relay swim for the first time, assembling two teams of four swimmers. Each swimmer will rotate in one-hour shifts, following marathon swimming rulesunassisted, with no wetsuits or contact with support vessels. Each relay team will be accompanied by a motor escort boat and kayak, and guided by a seasoned navigation team.
The swim is slated for July 21 or 22, chosen for its optimal tidal conditions. Teams will gather on Marthas Vineyard at 4:00 a.m., then motor to Nantucket for a 6:00 a.m. start. The full crossing is expected to take 810 hours, culminating in a historic landing on the shores of Chappaquiddick.
Environmental challenges are also top of mind. By swimming in July instead of August, the team avoids peak jellyfish season, improving comfort and safety. To address the growing presence of Great White sharks, A Long Swim uses advanced e-Sharkforce technology, an ankle-worn device that disrupts sharks ability to detect prey.
This historic event supports a greater mission. A Long Swim, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, has raised over $2.5 million for ALS research at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine and water safety programs in underserved communities. Proceeds from the 2025 swim will fund the learn-to-swim initiative at the YMCA of Marthas Vineyard, expanding access to life-saving water skills for island children.
Join us as we push boundaries, honor lives affected by ALS, and make open water historystroke by stroke.
Unlike traditional east-to-west crossings, the greatest challenge of the N2MV swim is navigating the powerful tidal currents that run north to southsometimes reaching up to five knots. Swimmers must thread the needle, catching the right part of the currents rollercoaster to land safely on Chappaquiddick. This difficulty has foiled all previous solo attempts, including three by A Long Swims own Doug McConnell, who once came within 300 strokes of the finish before being pulled by the current.
In 2025, A Long Swim will attempt the crossing as a relay swim for the first time, assembling two teams of four swimmers. Each swimmer will rotate in one-hour shifts, following marathon swimming rulesunassisted, with no wetsuits or contact with support vessels. Each relay team will be accompanied by a motor escort boat and kayak, and guided by a seasoned navigation team.
The swim is slated for July 21 or 22, chosen for its optimal tidal conditions. Teams will gather on Marthas Vineyard at 4:00 a.m., then motor to Nantucket for a 6:00 a.m. start. The full crossing is expected to take 810 hours, culminating in a historic landing on the shores of Chappaquiddick.
Environmental challenges are also top of mind. By swimming in July instead of August, the team avoids peak jellyfish season, improving comfort and safety. To address the growing presence of Great White sharks, A Long Swim uses advanced e-Sharkforce technology, an ankle-worn device that disrupts sharks ability to detect prey.
This historic event supports a greater mission. A Long Swim, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit, has raised over $2.5 million for ALS research at Northwestern Universitys Feinberg School of Medicine and water safety programs in underserved communities. Proceeds from the 2025 swim will fund the learn-to-swim initiative at the YMCA of Marthas Vineyard, expanding access to life-saving water skills for island children.
Join us as we push boundaries, honor lives affected by ALS, and make open water historystroke by stroke.
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