Swim for Life Adjusts Course with shoreline swim; cites environmental changes

After thirty-one years swimming across Provincetown Harbor from Long Point to the Boatslip, the annual Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla is changing course. The appearance of white sharks due to the increased seal population has created concern for swimmer safety in the deep waters off Long Point. For this reason, the course of this important Provincetown tradition and fundraiser will move closer to the town’s shoreline.  Walkers will be invited to participate as well.The tides will require the shoreline swim and walk to begin earlier, with details to be announced shortly.  In addition to the Provincetown Harbor Shoreline Swim on September 7, there will be a “Satelite Swim” in Great Pond in Wellfleet, pending approval by the town. This fresh water swim is approximately a mile and will follow the shoreline of the pond.“The Swim was created to honor the pristine harbor, which is the lifeblood of the town. The increased presence of seals and sharks in our waters is a harbinger of changes in the environment. And swimmer safety is paramount,” states Jay Critchley, Director of the Provincetown Community Compact (The Compact), sponsor of the Swim for Life.“These changes continue our celebration of the harbor’s ecology.  This is about the resilience of the Swim, the community and the planet,” he added. Rising water temperatures and currents are pushing whales and lobsters north site while the town becomes more vulnerable to ocean flooding.The Swim for Life ignites a passion for the community from people across the US and beyond who care about the well-being and sustainability of the town. The Compact invites everyone, from its business sponsors to the local community, to rally to this reinvigorated event.Anticipating such a change, The Compact Board of Directors has closely monitored this situation for several years, consulting with the Provincetown Harbormaster, the US Coast Guard, the Cape Cod National Seashore, swimmers, boaters and scientists.  The change became necessary this year when the Cape Cod National Seashore denied the permit for the Swim start at Long Point.  The Compact has long been committed to swimmer safety, including helping with the installation of buoys for tracking shark activity, supporting the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy and contributing financially to the Woods Hole Group contracted to study shark mitigation.The Swim has learned over the years that creating and nurturing community is its grandest offering. Since 1988 it has raised over $6.5M for year round services and community well-being.   “The Swim for Life has supported our clients and work from the earliest days of the AIDS epidemic and the Swim’s unwavering assistance helps ASGCC provide life-sustaining services throughout the year. Our gratitude to the Swim for Life cannot be understated,” states Dan Gates, Acting CEO of the AIDS Support Group of Cape Cod, one of the beneficiaries.Gwynne Guzzeau, Executive Director of Helping Our Women, writes that for 20+ years, the Swim has funded approximately 25% of HOW’s annual budget. “It is a chance to be together in community and to serve women in need at a time in need,” she states.This year's t-shirt by Vicky Tomayko is a simple and stunning symbol of the fragility of our environment and the frog’s  shape shifting evolution from water to land, reflecting on the transformation of the natural and civic environment in direct and dramatic ways.The 32nd Provincetown Swim for Life & Paddler Flotilla, a benefit for AIDS, women’s health and the community, is set for September 7, 2019 at the Boatslip Resort and Beach Club. For details and information about swimming, walking, volunteering and kayaking, go to www.swim4life.org thecompact@comcast.net