SOUTH BOSTON, Massachusetts—History was made in Boston Harbor on Saturday, August 20, 2016, with a record 100% completion rate in the notoriously challenging 8-mile Boston Light Swim race. The annual event has been staged since 1907 and is dubbed “The Granddaddy of American Open Water Swims.”
 
Warmer than usual water, a strong flood tide, and a light tailwind combined to produce one of the fastest swims in recent history and an unprecedented 100% completion rate by the field of 24 solo swimmers and 6 relay teams.
 
Eric Nilsson, 29, of Boston, cruised to an easy third victory in the event (he also won in 2012 and 2013) in a near-record time of 2:25:17. (The record of 2:20 was set by David Alleva in 1995.) Erin Bakey Brown, 47, of Ventura, Calif., was the first female finisher in a time of 2:49: 32, good for 4^th place overall. A 3-person all female relay team called “Crankin’ for Frank,” was the fastest on Saturday, finishing in a time of 2:53:31. Named in honor of Frank Wuest, a Cambridge Masters Swim Club member who passed away during an open water race in Rhode Island earlier this month, the relay’s team members Kate Radville, Amy Whitesides, and Sheryl Bierden swam in memory of their fallen lanemate. Complete results are included below.
 
Race Director Elaine Howley says having every swimmer finish within the strict 5-hour time limit was a real thrill. “This is the first time we can remember that every single starter finished the event. That’s a testament both to the strength of the field of swimmers and the impossibly perfect conditions we had on Saturday,” she says.
 
Water temperatures near the lighthouse hovered around 63 degrees F, a solid 5 degrees warmer than is typical. As the swimmers approached the inner harbor and the finish line at the L Street Bathhouse in South Boston, the water warmed to a balmy 68 degrees F. A light easterly wind and a ripping flood tide pushed swimmers along, creating one of the fastest events in history.
 
The Boston Light Swim staff was aided by a dozen dedicated volunteers who donated many hours over the weekend to make the swim happen. A fleet of fantastic boaters from around the area converged to escort swimmers to the finish line, and  the Coast Guard and Boston EMS were also on hand to ensure the safety of all participants. We’d like to thank our sponsors and partners, the Massachusetts Open Water Swimming Association (MOWSA), Ultima Replenisher, Harpoon Brewery, DRINKMaple, Carbo-Pro, FINIS, the Marathon Swimmers Federation, TRACK.RS, the Curley Community Center, and the Boston Harbor Yacht Club.
 
For more information, visit us online at www.bostonlightswim.org. For media inquiries, please contact Race Director Elaine Howley, at ehowley@massopenwaterswimming.org or 508-736-6268.

Solo Finishers