THE 2025 DOTY SWIM at Carson Beach

2025 Doty Swim Events

Sunday, June 22 at ~8 a.m. Doty Memorial 1-Mile Swim; 50 swimmer limit
Sunday, June 22 at ~8 a.m. Doty Memorial 2-Mile Swim; 25 swimmer limit

Registration will open in spring 2025. Check back for more details.

In Memoriam

James J. Doty was a local open-water swimming legend; there isn’t a body of water in New England that Jim didn't swim over the course of his lengthy career. In addition to completing a staggering number of marathon swims over several decades, Jim was also dedicated to offering more swimming opportunities to others. To further this mission, he formed the New England Marathon Swimming Association (NEMSA), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting swimming and a clean environment in New England waters. (NEMSA has since become the New England Open Water Swimming Association, which continues to offer open water opportunities throughout New England.) Jim also revived the Boston Light Swim, America's oldest open water race, in the mid-1970s after a long hiatus. The annual Jim Doty Memorial Mile is a small gesture to honor Jim's impressive open water legacy.

WhAT

The Doty swim is an informal, one- and two-mile swim held in memory of James Doty. This is a great starter open water event for athletes making the transition to triathlon, open water newbies, teens, and swimmers who might be a little anxious about leaving the chlorinated confines of the pool behind.

Wetsuits are encouraged, and for timid or special-needs swimmers looking for extra support on the 1-mile swim, please reach out to us about swimming with a Swim Angel. Swim Angels are experienced open water swimmers who have volunteered to swim with another swimmer for the duration of the event. They are there to make you feel comfortable in the water, cheer you on during brief swimming breaks, and if needed, guide you out of the water if you are feeling uncomfortable at any time.

Where

Carson Beach near Edward J. McCormack Bath House, 165 HarborWalk, Boston, MA. You’ll see use set up on the beach in front of the facility. Parking is available in public lots on both sides of the bath house.

Cost

1-Mile Swim $45
2-Mile Swim $65

CHeck-In

Check-in begins 1 hour before the race begins (7:00 am) and closes 15 minutes prior to start time (7:45am). You must check in at the table in order to swim. All swimmers must attend the pre-race briefing that will be held 15 minutes prior to the start time. If you’re not checked in before the meeting starts, you will not be permitted to swim.

Course

Course will be a roughly square course in which 1 loop = 1 mile and 2 loops = 2 miles.

All swimmers will swim to the right of the first buoy at the start only and to the left of all subsequent buoys. Two mile swimmers will swim to the left of the first buoy to complete their second lap.

The first leg of the swim is approximately 1/4 mile along shore, providing a safe warm up and easy access to shore if swimmers need to exit the water prior to the first turn.

Safety

Swimmers will be required to attend the pre-race meeting 15 minutes prior to the race. Lifeguards, kayak support, and angel swimmers will also be in the water to prevent participants from swimming too far from shore and to assist swimmers who require support.

Future doty swims

Future editions of the Jim Doty Memorial Mile are tentatively scheduled for:

2025: June 22nd @ 8:00 a.m.

2019 video by Bill Steele. Banner photo by David Boeri