Greenport to Orient State Beach: “Bug Light Swim”
WEST to EAST
Dawgpatch has completed the final swim of its EAST END SWIM SERIES, with a point to point swim from Fanning Point, Greenport NY to Long Bach Pt. located on Orient Beach State Park. This swim was a distance of 3.5 miles completed by swimmers Jeremy Grosvener, Drew Harvey, Spencer Schneider, Nick Stevens and new comers Matt O’Grady and Spencer Neyland.
Pushing off the Ship Ashore Dock at 4:30 AM for a 5:30 AM splash time, the team of 6 swimmers took off from Fanning Pt. (the point where the previous swim concluded) and headed east. Making the initial push across the North Ferry Channel the support boats and swimmers navigated behind the morning ferry and headed into sunrise towards the Greenport Breakwater. Splitting into two groups, the lead boat was Captained by Dave Harvey, accompanied by resident Lifeguard Chuck Partellow and spotter John Shaka that guided swimmers Spencer Schneider, Matt O’Grady and Spencer Neyland. The trail boat was captained by Jennifer Ferry accompanied by spotter and photographer Cameron Burton that stuck in between swimmer Nick Stevens, who was taking on his longest Dawgpatch Swim, and swimmers Drew Harvey and Jeremy Grosvener. Making it safely out of Greenport Harbor the swimmers followed the natural channel northeast towards Orient Harbor and began to bank right as the infamous “Bug Light” lighthouse came into view. Making a diagonal push to Long Beach Pt. the swimmers, crew and captains knew the current would begin to increase in intensity as the approach was made towards the mouth of Gardiners Bay. Swimming at a relatively consist pace for the better part of the swim, both the lead and trail group were in for a cross current charge for the last 200 yards to make the point. The first team made landfall on Long Beach Pt. at approximately 7:18 AM, followed by the trail group who chose to make their end on the “Bug Light” rock pile at approx. 7:30 AM.
This swim closes out a series of 11 different open water swims completed over the last five years that encompass all the major bays on the east end of Long Island, NY.
