Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard Relay
- Date Mon 21st July 2025
- Time 6:00AM EDT
- Location Edgartown, Massachusetts
- Price Free
- Races 1 race
Event summary
Get ready for an exhilarating adventure at the Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard Relay Swim, taking place on July 21, 2025, in beautiful Edgartown, Dukes. This groundbreaking event will challenge two teams of four swimmers to conquer an unprecedented 18-mile open water relay from Eel Point on Nantucket to East Beach on Chappaquiddick. Participants will navigate the complexities of powerful tidal currents, making this relay swim a true test of endurance and skill.
The relay will kick off bright and early at 6:00 a.m. after teams gather at 4:00 a.m. on Martha’s Vineyard. Swimmers will rotate in one-hour shifts, adhering to marathon swimming rules, without wetsuits or support vessels, to complete the crossing in an estimated 8 to 10 hours. With the aim of raising funds for ALS research and water safety programs, including a learn-to-swim initiative for children at the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard, this event not only pushes the limits of open water swimming but also supports a noble cause. Join us in making history, one stroke at a time!
The relay will kick off bright and early at 6:00 a.m. after teams gather at 4:00 a.m. on Martha’s Vineyard. Swimmers will rotate in one-hour shifts, adhering to marathon swimming rules, without wetsuits or support vessels, to complete the crossing in an estimated 8 to 10 hours. With the aim of raising funds for ALS research and water safety programs, including a learn-to-swim initiative for children at the YMCA of Martha’s Vineyard, this event not only pushes the limits of open water swimming but also supports a noble cause. Join us in making history, one stroke at a time!
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.
Nantucket to Martha’s Vineyard Relay
