Beaufort River Swim celebrates 10 years

Some call the Beaufort River Swim a race, and they aren’t wrong.

But to Pete Palmer, the open-water swim is just that. There is a beginning and an end, and the money raised goes to helping hundreds of people learn to swim in area covered by water pulled by strong currents.

The Beaufort River Swim will celebrate a decade of helping people learn to be comfortable in the water with its 10th annual swim Saturday morning.

“The bottom line is we don’t know how many lives we’ve saved, but we know we’ve saved lives,” said Palmer, who is 80 and a longtime event volunteer and participant. “Children who didn’t know how to swim can now be tossed in the water and have reasonable chance to survive.”

Money from the event goes to the Wardle Family YMCA in Port Royal, for its Learn to Swim program. The program offers financial help to allow children, families and other individuals to take swimming lessons they otherwise couldn’t afford.

Almost half of the YMCA’s 1,500 swimming lessons in 2015 were for program participants, according to a YMCA news release. The Beaufort River Swim raised almost $9,000 in 2015.

In the release, YMCA aquatics director Lisa Redwine said children learning to be safe around the water is as important as looking both ways when crossing the street. The program builds confidence and removes fear of the water, she said.

“Some people think if a child jumps in a swimming pool and can get back to the edge, they can swim,” Palmer said. “You’re going to end up in water with a current at some juncture. You’re going to need more than to be able to get back to the edge of the pool.”

Those comfortable swimming at least a mile could manage the swim Saturday, Palmer said, though conditions are much different than with laps in a clear pool.

The 3.2-mile River Swim flows with the incoming tide starting at Port Royal Landing Marina, bends with the Beaufort River and finishes at the boat landing adjacent to Beaufort Downtown Marina.

Organizers added a 1-mile fun swim, which begins at the Beaufort Memorial Hospital dock.

Participants can register and check in Saturday from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. at the marina adjacent to Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.

Cost is $65 the day of the race.

The race starts at 9:30 a.m.

And, yes, to many it is a race, one that has drawn fierce competitors.

Last year, former Heritage Academy swimmer James Hammond finished first overall for a second consecutive year. Florida State swimmer and Hilton Head Island High School graduate Josie Cuda was the top female finisher.

Overall winners and the top finishers from each age group receive coveted bobblehead dolls. Palmer claims six for winning his age group.

This story was originally published June 9, 2016 at 9:24 AM with the headline "Beaufort River Swim celebrates 10 years."