MOWSA currently offers several solo, sanctioned swims that challenge marathon swimmers over long distances in cold water.

BLSx2.jpg

Boston Light Double (BLSx2) – 16 miles (25.8 km)
M Street Beach, South Boston to Little BREWStER Island and Back to M Street Beach, South BOston

The Boston Light Swim and the Boston Light Double have a ton of history. The BLSX2 is a tide-assisted, cold water swim. It starts from M Street Beach in South Boston, winds though the Boston Harbor Islands (which is a national park) out to Boston Light on Little Brewster Island. The Double is completed when the swimmer returns on a flood tide along the same course, back to the M Street Beach.

What to expect

Water Temperature: 58 to 68 degrees F

Tides: This swim has to be tailored to the swimmer's pace. You start at the M Street Beach in South Boston with the ebb tide and need to reach Boston Light on Little Brewster Island within 30 minutes of slack and swim back to South Boston on the flood tide.

Weather: Anticipate ocean swells, wind, waves, and overcast skies. You may get glassy water or four-foot swells. This is New England; expect it all.

Swimmer notes: The swim starts from a sandy beach. Little Brewster has a pebble/rock beach. The finish is back at the sandy M Street Beach. The water temperature is coldest at Little Brewster Island. The swimmer is allowed time to reapply sunscreen and anti-chafing products before starting the return swim, but you should not linger too long--officially you have just 10 minutes to begin the return trip or the swim is terminated. Plus, standing around wet after exiting 58-degree water can quickly lead to hypothermia for most people. You'll be in the open ocean for the duration of the swim, so expect to encounter some marine life.

Dates with favorable tides in 2024: The BLSx2 starts in the early morning at a specific time in the tide cycle to capitalize on that assistance, which means there are limited opportunities available each season. In 2024, we have identified the following dates as being amenable to a BLSx2 attempt:

  • May 13, 14, 28, 29, and 30.

  • June 10, 11, 12, 25, 26, 27, and 28.

  • July 9, 10, 11, 12.

  • August 8, 9.

  • September 9, 10, 23, and 24.

Please contact us if you’d like to discuss swimming on a particular day.

Solo Records

Crossing Number Name Nationality Date Time Notes Observer
1 Samuel Richards USA August 17, 1913 13:09 First, Charlestown Bridge to Lighthouse and Back (24 miles) Historic
2 Charles Toth USA September 12, 1915 15:48 Charlestown Bridge to Light and Return Historic, noted as the American endurance swimming record at the time
3 Charlotte Arne USA September 3, 1934 13:36 First Female Historic
4 James Doty USA September 22, 1969 9:30:00 First, M Street Beach to Lighthouse and Back (16 miles) Historic
5 Elaine Howley USA August 12, 2010 7:07:10 First Female on 16-mile Course Fred Knight
6 Greg O'Connor USA August 12, 2010 7:07:10 Fastest Male Fred Knight
7 Helen Lin USA August 7, 2015 7:56:26 Elaine Howley
8 Tommy Gainer USA October 7, 2016 7:23:49 Greg O'Connor
9 Kim Garbarino USA July 19, 2018 7:41:02 Greg O'Connor
10 Kellie Latimer USA June 25, 2019 7:20:55 Greg O'Connor
11 Alana Aubin USA August 5, 2019 6:18:01 Overall Course Record, Fastest Female Greg O'Connor
Boston Light Triple
24 Miles
M Street Beach to Boston Light
Boston Light to M Street Beach
M Street Beach to Boston Light
Name Natoinality Date Time Notes Observer
Kim Garbarino USA July 19, 2019 14:22:01 First male on Triple Course, tandem solo Greg O'Connor
Elaine Howley USA July 19, 2019 14:22:01 First female on Triple Course, tandem solo Greg O'Connor

Historial source documents:

Banner photo by David Boeri