Welcome to the
Maggie Fischer Memorial
Cross Bay Swim
Friday, July 31, 2026
5.6 miles of open water, from the Fire Island Lighthouse to Brightwaters.
The Maggie Fischer Memorial Cross Bay Swim
Swimmers, kayakers, and spectators in last year's event enjoyed almost perfect conditions: light winds, fairly flat seas, an incoming tide, and mostly cloudy skies. This year we have 125 swimmers from all over the country ready to compete in our Cross Bay challenge! Their ages range from 16 to 75 and many are doing this for the first time while others are enjoying multiple crossings.
2026 marks 100 years of The Cross Bay Swim. We have special logos for the merch, and an artist has donated a painting of the beautiful 2018 start at the Lighthouse for someone to win in a raffle.
Join us at Gilbert Park on July 31 by 8 AM for this much loved Great South Bay tradition!
More about the painting raffle
100 Years of the Cross Bay Swim
This year celebrates 100 years since the first Cross Bay Swim.
We can thank Gertrude Ederle, the first woman to swim across the English Channel, for our event. She conquered the Channel in 1926. The Cross Bay Swim was established in her honor. The first Swim was attended by a huge group of swimmers and boaters. The New York Times covered the event on its front page.
She was already an Olympic gold medalist at the 1924 Paris Olympics, and only 20 years old when she shattered the existing Channel record by over two hours. President Coolidge called her “America’s best girl”. She was athletic royalty and American spirit personified, a superstar of her time. The Ederle family were Long Islanders, and Trudy Ederle’s family members live on Long Island to this day.
- 1926
Gertrude Ederle becomes the first woman to swim the English Channel. The Cross Bay Swim is established in her honor.
- 1927
The first Cross Bay Swim. Marion Robarts of Patchogue makes the first recorded crossing, from Water Island to Patchogue.
- 1950–1973
Cosponsored by the Islip Town Bulletin and the Bay Shore Tuna Club, The Swim becomes a highly anticipated event each summer.
- 1976
Tod Brown of West Islip sets an era record of 1:43:25 that stands through the original run of The Swim.
- 1999
After a 26-year hiatus, Rory Allen and over 30 volunteers revive The Swim — dedicated to the memory of Maggie Fischer.
- 2004
The course changes to run directly north from the Lighthouse dock to Walker Beach — the 5.6-mile (9 km) course in use today.
- 2018
Christopher Arena of Amityville sets the all-time record: 1 hour, 38 minutes, 59 seconds.
- 2026
The 100th year of The Cross Bay Swim. Plan to be with us!
Win an original piece of art honoring The Swim!
To honor our 100th year, we have an original work of art to raffle! The painting depicts the classic beauty of the 2018 start.
The artist, Robert Patrick Coombs, is widely acclaimed. He will be at the event, showing off this and other pieces of his work. We will have a raffle to award this to a lucky person!
We know of at least one participant in this year’s event who is in the painting. Can you spot the person?
Watch the Start
The start is spectacular every year. We invite anyone who can get to the start to join us on the beach or on the dock to witness the event. The Fire Island Lighthouse is also available.
If you are interested, call the Lighthouse at 631-583-5901.
The finish — and the festivities — take place at Gilbert Park in Brightwaters. Follow every swimmer live on the RaceJoy tracking app.
Track swimmers with RaceJoyMade possible by our community
With special thanks, we wish to acknowledge the following sponsors and providers to The Swim. Without their help we could never run such an intensive event.
Become A Sponsor- Bayshore Beverage
- Bayshore-Brightwaters Ambulance Corps
- Brightwaters Beverage
- Brightwaters Village Delicatessen
- Cablevision - News 12
- Department of Homeland Security
- Fire Island Ferry Company
- Great South Bay Amateur Radio Club
- National Park Service
- P. C. Richard & Son
- Sheehan & Company
- Suffolk Printing
- Suffolk Transportation Service
- Town of Islip
- US Coast Guard
- Village of Brightwaters
- Village of Saltaire
Be part of the 100th Cross Bay Swim
Register to swim, sign on as a kayaker, or support the charities The Swim gives back to every year.