THE ANNUAL MAGGIE
FISCHER MEMORIAL
GREAT SOUTH BAY CROSS
BAY SWIM
Text & Photos by Jeff Schou
At 7:45AM on July 12th, the annual Maggie Fischer
Memorial Great South Bay Cross Bay Swim began between the Lighthouse and
Kismet. The swim dates back to the early 1900’s, but accurate records
have only been kept since the 1950s. From 1973 to 1999, the swim went on
a 26 year hiatus. Then, in 1999, through the efforts of Bay Shore
resident Rory Allen the swim was reborn. The swim was dedicated to the
memory of Maggie Fischer, who had passed away just a few days before its
revival - she was scheduled to be a competitor. Maggie was a seventeen year old
senior of St. Anthony's High School, born and raised in Brightwaters. She was
one of the top students in her class, an accomplished member of the crew and
swim teams, an incredible flutist, and a dedicated lifeguard to the Saltaire
community. Maggie loved just having fun, and the swim is dedicated to
that memory of her, the memory of the life she lived and of all the amazing
things she accomplished in her seventeen years.
This year’s swim
featured over 100 swimmers testing their endurance to raise funds to benefit
the Hospice Care Network Children's and Family Bereavement Program, and a
scholarship fund in Maggie's name. This year’s course, measured at 5.44 miles
featured an unexpected surprise – a sandbar – which was caused by the starting
point being pushed eastward from previous years as a result of Super Storm
Sandy destroying the dock at the Lighthouse. Into their swim for less than a
mile, the swimmers found themselves unable to swim in the knee deep water, which
resulted in the unusual sight of seeing long distance swimmers walking for a
hundred yards far from shore. Swimmers and kayakers alike treated it with
aplomb before resuming the grueling course. 
Swimmers and Kayakers
get ready for the start
The flotilla of swimmers, kayakers (one for each swimmer), and
safety boats left on time under a cloudy sky and a strong breeze and finished
4hours and 2 minutes later. The safety boats included multiple boats from the
Coast Guard Auxiliary, Suffolk County Police, multiple local Fire Departments,
Islip Town and over 20 private vessels used as lead boats, gate boats,
perimeter boats and interceptor boats. There was a close call when a speed
boat deliberately evaded an interceptor boat and went right through the
swimmers and kayakers at high speed. The marine radios on the safety boats
were going non-stop as they radioed each other to warn of the idiot (to put it
politely) charging through the field of swimmers and kayakers. Joanie McKeon
of Kismet, a member of the crew of the intercept boat attempting to cut off the
speed boat was later asked what she was thinking as the boats drew closer and
closer and said “So this is how my life ends.” That how close things were
thanks to an ignorant boater.
Swimmers and Kayakers
crossing the Bay
83 swimmers completed this year’s swim, and were greeted to the
cheers of hundreds waiting for them at Brightwaters Gilbert Park. The event
was won by Thomas Dolan of Breezy Point, NY with a time of 2:01:16:94.
Many Fire Islanders competed and served as support staff – among them the
Kismet Inn’s Owen Cole, finishing with a time of 3:01:36:87 and assisted by his
kayaker and Dad, Ashleigh Cole. Congratulations to all the swimmers and
thanks to all the kayakers and support staff that made it happen. Special
thanks go out to this year’s coordinator, Kismet’s own Christina Grahn.
If you’d like to make a donation to this worthy cause, please see
details at the Swim’s website: http://www.greatsouthbayswim.com/.
The Fischer's with the
Winner
