Local open-water events in full swing!

From June into October, the R.I. and S. Mass area is a Mecca of open water swimming. On June 20th the local OW race season got underway on a beautiful sunny morning with the Mashpee Superswim and Buzzards Bay Swim. The popular Narrow River Turnaround on June 27th will be followed by the Save The Bay Swim, The Waterman Eco-Challenge, the Misquamicut Salt Pond Challenge, the R.I. Aquatic Hall of Fame Swim, Swim Across America RI, FIRMman RI, and Newport Sharkfest. Key races further north include the Misery Challenge (SwimRI carpool) and the Kingdom Swim (NEM Championship). And these are just some of the great OW events New England has to offer!

Group OW training swims take place nearly every day in salt and fresh water venues around RI and S. Mass, including Narragansett Town Beach, Second Beach, Mackerel Cove, Barrington Beach, and Georgiaville Pond.

For more info, links and contacts, see Upcoming Races & Events and Locations & Schedules.

Spring Saturday practices at RWU confirmed!

Coached Saturday practices 7:00-8:30am at Roger Williams University have been confirmed this spring through June 13th (no practice on 5/16 and 5/30). Special thanks to coaches Matt Emmert and Colin Fisher for making this happen. Let's show our appreciation by taking advantage of this opportunity for professional coaching in a great 8-lane pool while it lasts. Attendance is usually between 20 and 30 eager swimmers. Early practice also means we can beat the rush at Green Eggs. See you at RWU!

EPB&GC Pool Temporarily Closed for Renovation

As of 3/30/2015, the East Providence Boys & Girls Club pool is closed for renovation until further notice. In light of this development, for the remainder of the spring we will try to offer coached Saturday weekend workouts at Roger Williams University or elsewhere as frequently as possible.

Alternate workout venues for East Providence-area swimmers include coached Mon/Wed/Fri morning workouts at Cumberland High School, some Saturday morning workouts at Roger Williams University, or self-arranged ad hoc workouts during lap swim times at Barrington YMCA (Y membership required), Brown University ($10 drop-in) or CCRI-Lincoln ($3 drop-in). There are also Mon/Wed/Sunday workouts at Newport Athletic Club ($8 drop-in).

For a comprehensive list of organized group workout options and updates, please regularly check the Locations & Schedules section of this website and the SwimRI Facebook page.

SwimRI Repeats as New England Short Course Yards Champions!

On March 15 and 20-22, SwimRI won the overall points competition at the 2015 New England Local Masters Swimming Committee Short Course Yards Championships for the second year running, successfully defending its 2014 team title against 63 other teams from throughout New England and other "LMSCs".

Top 5 team scores (points):

  1. SwimRI -- 6,339.5
  2. Cambridge Masters Swim Club -- 4,654.5
  3. Maine Masters Swim Club -- 3,193
  4. Worcester Area Masters -- 2,663
  5. Great Bay Masters -- 2,433.5

To no one's surprise, SwimRI's indefatigable swimming iron man Tom Manfredi once again won the men's individual high-point competition. Congratulations, Tom!

As is their penchant, many of Coach Fred's South County Y swimmers completed up to 13 individual events plus relays, effectively "carpet bombing" the competition. Coach Albert's and Coach Trent's versatile Triton swimmers combined with the South County morning crew to provide high-place finishes and lethal relay combinations, racking up points in the process.

Newport-area swimmers, Coach Ross's Cumberland-area newcomers and other fresh faces from around the state made key contributions. And Coach Frank traveled up from Florida (sporting a new tan and a new flashy suite) to swim, plan relays with the other coaches, and help rally the troops.

The team held its traditional social gatherings on Friday and Saturday nights. Rumor has it that, afterwards, the usual suspects were spotted around town spreading SwimRI cheer at other local watering holes.

Congrats to all on our big win. More importantly, thank you for your teamwork and camaraderie!


    SwimRI Takes Early Lead at New England SCY Championships

    Congrats to everyone who did the 1000/1650y freestyle last weekend on some great swims and getting SwimRI an early (albeit narrow) lead as we defend our points competition title. Good job all around!

    Top 5 teams after the conclusion of "Distance Day" on March 15th:

    1. Swim Rhode Island 366
    2. Cambridge Masters 361
    3. Minuteman Andover 179
    4. Greenwood Masters 173
    5. Great Bay Masters 162

    Stay tuned for the main events March 20th-22nd.

    January 31st Hour Swim, WCC Meet & Swim/Bike Workouts

    Lots of competitions and practices on January 31st, including a last chance for procrastinators, fence-sitters, and "do-over" swims to help New England Masters Swim Club defend its national title in the USMS Speedo 1-Hour ePostal National Championship:

    7:30am:  Open drop-in swim practice @ CCRI-Lincoln (Flanagan Campus). Cost: $5. Contact: douglas.sayles@swimri.org

    9:00am:  1-Hour ePostal Swim @ CCRI-Lincoln (Flanagan Campus). Cost: $5. 12-swimmer cap. USMS-NEM membership required. Swim hard or swim easy, but do it and submit your results. Every yard counts! To reserve a spot or volunteer as a timer/counter email douglas.sayles@swimri.org.

    9:00am:  Coach Fred's bike trainer class @ South County YMCA. $15 drop-in fee for a well-attended 2 to 2.5 hour class. YMCA membership not required. Contact: swimtrirunman@aol.com

    3:00pm:  WCC Masters Swim Meet, Whitin Community Center, 60 Main St, Whitinsville, MA. 3:00pm warmup, 4:00pm meet start. Looking to carpool with a SwimRI teammate? Post on the SwimRI Facebook page.

    Adult Learn to Swim Certification Course

    WHY:  You could save a life! Learn effective methods for teaching adults to swim and for coordinating an ALTS program at your local pool.

    WHEN:  Saturday, January 17, 2015.

    WHERE:  Bard College at Simon's Rock, 84 Alford Rd, Great Barrington, MA. Check-In: 8:30-9:00am. Classroom training: 9:00am-Noon. Lunch: Noon - 1:00pm (provided by USMS). In-water training: 1:00pm-4:00pm.

    INSTRUCTOR:  NE-LMSC Chair Bill Meier.

    HOW:  Register at https://www.clubassistant.com/club/clinics/reserve.cfm?c=1758&cid=63108. Registration closes at midnight PST on 1/16 or when enrollment reaches 50.

    COST:  $100. The NE LMSC will provide a $50 subsidy/reimbursement for those who need it.

    2015 USMS Speedo 1-Hour ePostal National Championship

    SwimRI is once again helping New England Masters Swim Club defend its title in this national month-long event by running organized heats for USMS-NEM members:

    January 11th @ Roger Williams University in Bristol (48 swimmers = 2 per lane x 8 lanes x 3 heats)
    Check-in and warm-up open at 8:00am. Heats start at 9:00, 10:20 & 11:40. Cost is ~$15 per swimmer. RWU college swimmers will count/time. RSVP to douglas.sayles@swimri.org with your prioritized heat preferences. Post-swim social gathering at Aidan's Irish Pub.
    January 18th @ St. George's School in Middletown (32 swimmers = 2 per lane x 8 lanes x 2 heats)

    Two heats, starting no later than 9:15 and 10:30am. SwimRI-South County Y masters swimmers given priority. Other NEM members welcome if/as space allows. Cost is ~$10 per swimmer. Post-swim luncheon at 1:00pm, location TBD. For more info contact Fred Bartlett at swimtrirunman@aol.com.

    January 31st @ CCRI-Lincoln Flanagan Campus (12 swimmers = 2 per lane x 6 lanes)

    One heat, starting promptly at 9:00am (following the regular 7:30 drop-in practice). Cost is ~$5 per swimmer. Last chance for procrastinators, fence-sitters, and "do-over" swims. To reserve a spot or volunteer to time/count, RSVP to douglas.sayles@swimri.org

    Can't join us on the 11th, 18th or 31st? Ask a coach or friend to time for you during January, then submit your results online via the official event website at https://www.clubassistant.com/club/meet_information.cfm?c=1308&smid=5888. Every yard counts!