The fourth annual Virgin Islands Search and Rescue Swim the Sound fundraiser attracted 68 swimmers on Sunday afternoon.
“It is the biggest Swim the Sound event we have ever had,” said organiser Katie Claxton.
Sixty-eight swimmers participated in the event, besting last year’s turn out of 54.
Participants started at Saba Rock and swam to Leverick Bay Marina and Resort. The two courses included a one- and two-mile swim.
It was the second year Ms. Claxton has been organising the event and reached out to competitors in the USVI this year. The week before the Swim the Sound more than 200 swimmers competed in the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim on St. John. She made sure they all received a flyer promoting the Virgin Gorda swim.
“I think that really helped us,” she said.
Jeff Miller of St. John won the two-mile race in the men’s division.
Last weekend he took part in the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim on St. John, not only as a competitor but as an organiser setting up the course and recording times.
“This was spectacular because I didn’t have to do anything, but swim,” Mr. Miller said. “It was a blast. The course was marked really well and plenty of safety.”
He was the first male finisher and third overall. Peter Willmott took fourth overall and was the second male finisher.
“[Mr. Willmott] and I came down the long stretch and met each other at the turn,” Mr. Miller said. “During the last half mile we duked it out. It was a lot of fun.”
Although his wife has participated in the Swim the Sound event three times, it was his first time competing in the event.
“It was a blast,” Mr. Miller said. “We look forward to coming back.”
This year’s event attracted more of an “international crowd,” including participants from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and Ireland, according to Ms. Claxton. The competitors’ skill level also varied.
“Some people haven’t swam in three years and they hopped in the water and did two miles,” Ms. Claxton said. “Some people swim two and three miles every day and work hard to compete in this.”
Mr. Miller said the fun thing about swimming is that you never know what your competition will be until you get in the water.
“You can never tell my looking at someone, it is all about technique,” Mr. Miller said.
A friend of Neville Sorrentino signed him up for the two-mile swim without him knowing about it.
“Someone put my name forward and I thought I needed to prove myself,” Mr. Sorrentino said.
He had never done the event before, but enjoyed it.
“I have never swam any where near two miles before,” Mr. Sorrentino said. “Just getting out there in the open water was a bit daunting, but with all the competitors swimming around you it was fine.”
VI resident Amanda Grant was the first finisher in the two-mile swim. It was the third year she has competed in the event.
“I grew up as a swimmer and I still try to swim a lot here. We live in a beautiful place to swim and I like to support VISAR,” Ms. Grant said. “Any time you have a chance to compete, it is fun.”