No one said it would be easy, right?
On Monday, Team 8 set out on the second day of their quest to finish their 26-mile journey from Presque Isle to Thunder Bay Island. After rising seas and a relentless current in their face cut day #1 short, there was just 11 miles to go in what was predicted to be good conditions.
They started out in calm, but chilly waters. They were making good time when a severe thunderstorm forced their exit just 1.5 miles from their island destination. Sheltering in place was considered, but the seas grew to a dangerous level and Captain Glen Stolt had his hands full to get us safely back to port.
Coming this close to the finish line after such an inspiring effort was heartbreaking. But Team 8 had brought us 24.5 miles closer to our Detroit finish line, an impressive feat indeed!
This would be the last day working with Glen & Lynda Stolt as our Captain and First Mate. Saunter, our 45′ American Tug, was facing mechanical issues that had to be addressed. We sincerely thank the Stolts for getting us roughly half way through our journey through thick and thin.
We were now scrambling to secure a new support boat for stage 9. At the last minute, Dan Braden donated his services to pilot his vessel, Windless. Rick Dunn, also donated his time to serve as the First Mate. What a couple of great guys!
Rick is the husband of Nancy Kurzat, President of the Thunder Bay Island Preservation Society. The TBIPS and the entire city of Alpena really rolled out the red carpet for us, and we will always be grateful. It was sure good to see Abbi Kaszubowski, the Alpena Township Supervisor, as part of the greeting committee!
Stage 9 started at the waypoint where stage 8 left off, tacking on that 1.5 miles to their 23-mile total to get to Sturgeon Point.
Like every stage since we reached the lower peninsula, Team 9 swam against the current the entire day. Another thunderstorm interrupted their day while we sheltered in place. Despite these obstacles, the team covered 14 miles of their course, 15.5 miles in total, before being knocked out of the water themselves.
Our new support boat, Windless, began to lose its’ power. All electric instrumentation was dying and the battery was not regenerating. We had no choice but to head for port and hope the remaining battery life would take us that far. We did make it and we all kissed the dock upon arrival.
Team 9 was still 9 miles from their Sturgeon Point destination and we were once again without a support boat. We felt fortunate to strike a deal with a boat Captain that same day. Then he backed out at the 11th hour, leaving us high and dry.
Now, late at night before the planned morning swim to finish stage 9, we were forced to come up with an alternate plan. The plan would be for Team 9 to complete a shoreline swim at the Sturgeon Point Lighthouse, the site of the finish line.
We set up a 300-yard course, and I escorted them in a kayak over 56 lengths of the course to accumulate more than the 9 miles left to complete their stage. This team was truly resilient!
Who needs a boat? We got it done on our own. It took incredible team work from the swimmers, the staff, and the community! Nothing will stop this mission!
A news story reporting on how the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim was “aborted” on two consecutive stages alarmed some people into thinking that the event was over. The story was correct in stating that two days of swimming was aborted, but the assumption that the entire event was aborted was very incorrect.
Rumors of our demise are greatly exaggerated.
I am happy to report that we have secured a boat at the last minute for stage 10, allowing us to continue the event tomorrow (Thursday, August 14th). This is a 34′ sailboat, which as pros and cons. A power boat was our first option, but we have met with the Captain, toured the boat, and have come up with solutions to concerns.
I am ecstatic to report that we have a boat secured to take us the rest of the way from stage 11 through stage 17. Captain Hugh Holstein of Detroit, and his Meridian 408, have been chartered to lead us home.
We would like to thank everyone who reached out with boat leads and words of encouragement during these challenging times.
We would like to congratulate Team 8 and Team 9 for truly gutsy performances!
Fins up to Team 8 swimmers, Michael Bell, John Leitner, David Centner, and Sara Morgan, and Team 9 swimmers, Muffy MacKenzie, Laura Hall, Laura Krebs, and Charlene Stade!
~ Jim “The Shark” Dreyer, Event Director
