About the Buzzards Bay Swim
Celebrate a clean, healthy Buzzards Bay at the 31st annual Buzzards Bay Swim on Saturday, June 22, 2024! Traditionally, more than 300 swimmers participate in the Swim each year, raising thousands of dollars for the Buzzards Bay Coalition’s work to protect clean water in our region.
Why should I swim?
The Buzzards Bay Swim is a fun open water swim and community event that raises funds for a great cause: clean water in Buzzards Bay. It's also a safe, fully supported event complete with medical personnel and an on-the-water safety squad.
When you participate in the Buzzards Bay Swim, you're signing up for an exhilarating open water swim and the best beach party on Buzzards Bay, with great perks including: chip timing, swim cap, bag check, healthy snacks, modern cut event t-shirt, a fresh breakfast with hot artisan coffee and pancakes made to order, awards and prizes, a custom-made bronze finisher's medal made by local artisans, and a cold glass of beer at the finish line.
Who participates in the Buzzards Bay Swim?
"Had a wonderful time doing the Swim this year. The event, staff and volunteers (on land and in the water) make it the best! Planning on it for next year."
Pam Silver of Wareham
More than 1,300 swimmers have participated in the Buzzards Bay Swim since it began 30 years ago. The Swim draws participants of every age, ability, and fitness level from across the region, the country, and the world.
Whether you’re a serious swimmer or triathlete looking to train in open water, a recreational swimmer who wants to achieve a personal fitness goal, or you simply love the Bay and want to make a difference, you’ll have a blast at the Buzzards Bay Swim! If you love to swim and you want to make a difference for our local environment, then you should sign up today.
Swimmers aren’t the only participants in the Buzzards Bay Swim. Kayakers form a safety flotilla and escort swimmers across the harbor and at both ends of the course, 100+ volunteers work together to make the event a success.
Where does the Buzzards Bay Swim take place?
The Buzzards Bay Swim is located on the beautiful South Coast of Massachusetts in the waterfront communities of New Bedford and Fairhaven. For three decades, the Swim has been a quintessential Southeastern Massachusetts tradition to kick off summer.
Swimmers complete a 1.2-mile open water course across outer New Bedford Harbor. The course is a rare chance to swim point-to-point across a closed shipping channel, beginning in the South End of New Bedford and ending at Fort Phoenix Beach State Reservation in Fairhaven.
At the finish line party, an enthusiastic crowd greets each swimmer. After receiving their bronze finisher medals, swimmers relax in the sand while enjoying music, a pancake breakfast, local coffee, and local craft beer. The Swim ends with an awards ceremony that recognizes the fastest swimmers, top fundraisers, and longest-running participants.
