With a north wind calming Provincetown harbor but bringing unseasonably cold water, the 37th Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla welcomed 310 swimmers and raised $350,000 for AIDS, women’s health and the community. This year’s event, sponsored by the Provincetown Community Compact, supports thirteen beneficiaries and raised the most funds since it began in 1988.
Swimmers participated from across the country and beyond, including from Geneva, Hong Kong, England, Bulgaria and Canada, while fifteen swam in place in their hometowns. Tim Convery from Tim-Scapes created this year’s design for t-shirts, caps and mugs.There were 28 business sponsors and critical support from the Town of Provincetown, particularly from the Provincetown Rescue Squad, the harbormaster and the DPW.
Joan Nagle of Provincetown received the David Asher Volunteer Award for her decades of coaching and teaching swimming on Cape Cod, including the founding of the Wellfleet Great Pond Mermaids who raised over $20,000 in pledges. There were 28 registered Swim Teams, including Lily House at $68,000 and Team Willapalooza at $8,000.
The 1.2-mile swim route along the East End shoreline, from the Breakwater Hotel to Johnson Street beach, along with the newly-established Half-Mile Swim, was sprinkled with over fifty kayakers and safety boats and three Harbormaster boats. Shoreline Watch Parties cheered the swimmers at St. Mary of the Harbor, Cape Codder Guest House, Angel Foods and numerous private gatherings. A special squad of “Rock Stars” protected swimmers from the rock groins along the shore.
The Wellesley High School Swim Team once again electrified the large crowd at pre-Swim registration and at the Swim start with their rousing cheers. The Provincetown Town Crier officially launched the Swim at the start with director Jay Critchley, whose historic red lame flag marked the call.
This year’s headquarters for registration and the post-Swim festivities was at the intimate setting of Johnson Street beach under the big white tent while Cannery Wharf Park is under construction. With the Prayer Ribbons fluttering over the beach, swimmers were greeted by the medical and finish line teams and joined the Mermaid Tea catered by Far Land Provisions with music by Zoe Lewis.
Top Individual fundraisers are: Mike Dillon at $19,000, and Gail Strickland (Compact Board member) at $13,500 of Provincetown; Brian Sarr, $11,000, Bedford, MA; Jim Youngerman, $10,600, Lenox, MA; Jonathan Scott, $10,500, Provincetown; ; Bonnie Kramer, $9,000 and Barbara Jo Revelle, $8,000, Wellfleet; Hunter Gaiotti, $6,000, Provincetown; Rachel Faukner, $5,600, Washington, SC.Thirty-one swimmers raised over $2,500, with thirty-nine raising over $1000, sharing over $10,000 in prizes from local businesses.
The 38th Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla will be held on September 6, 2025. For further information go to swim4life.org.
