2023 Buzzards Bay Swim - CANCELLED Due to Unsafe Weather Conditions

The Buzzards Bay Coalition has announced that the 2023 Buzzards Bay Swim has been cancelled due to unsafe weather conditions.

“The safety and well-being of our participants, volunteers, emergency personnel, staff, and our community is our top priority,” Coalition President Mark Rasmussen said in a message to this year’s swimmers. “Under the current circumstances, and based upon the guidance of safety officials, we concluded that this year’s event cannot take place safely."

The Buzzards Bay Swim, hosted annually since 1993, brings hundreds of participants to Buzzards Bay each June to swim across outer New Bedford Harbor to Fort Phoenix State Reservation in Fairhaven, where the event ends with a beachfront celebration. Last year’s event raised more than $185,000 to support the Coalition's efforts to protect clean water in Buzzards Bay.

“I’m sure that you share our disappointment in this year’s cancellation of the Swim, but I hope you take solace in the fact that your early fundraising has already contributed more than $135,000 to sustain Bay protection efforts,” Rasmussen told swimmers. “Those funds are more critical than ever to continuing our water quality monitoring, land conservation, public education, outdoor exploration and clean water advocacy work.”

Swimmers have plenty of opportunities to participate in other events later this summer and fall. The Coalition has a limited number of available bibs for the Falmouth Road Race on August 20, 2023. And on Sunday, October 1, the 2023 Watershed Ride will showcase the scenic Buzzards Bay Watershed to hundreds of cyclists on their choice of a 100, 75 or 35 mile course, all three of which culiminate at a Finish Line Celebration in Woods Hole.

Registered swimmers are invited to defer="defer" their 2023 registration until the 2024 Swim, or transfer their registration to participate in the upcoming Watershed Ride.

For more information, please email events@savebuzzardsbay.org.