4th Annual Jim Whelan Open Water Festival, featuring the 57th Around The Island® Swim

Are you tough enough to swim 22.75mi/36.6km around Absecon Island?  Submit your application to compete in the 4th Annual Jim Whelan Open Water Festival, featuring the 57th Around The Island® Swim on Sunday, July 30, 2023!

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The history of this legendary marathon swim began back in 1953 when two ACBP members, Ed "Dutch" Stetser and Edward Solitare, participated in a $100 bet to see who could circumnavigate Absecon Island, and the communities of Atlantic City, Ventnor, Margate, and Longport, first.  It was Solitare who won, completing the grueling course in 13:30, with Stetser only an hour behind him.  Throughout the following half-century, numerous international open water swimming athletes competed in the race, which was eventually called a "world championship ocean marathon."

Hosted by Green Whales Racing, the inaugural Jim Whelan Open Water Festival successfully resurrected the historic and challenging swim for its 54th installment in 2019 in honor of the late Jim Whelan; a former NJ State Senator, Mayor of Atlantic City, member of the Atlantic City Beach Patrol, Atlantic City teacher, and Atlantic City High School Swim Coach. 

Learn more about the event by visiting our main website at www.jwopenwater.org! 

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For the 57th Around The Island® Swim, there are 3 competitor categories:  Individual, Mixed Relay Team, and Scholastic Relay Team.  Relay teams can be made up of 2-4 athletes of either gender.

Entry fees are as follows:

• Individual Competitor - $1,000
• Mixed Relay Team - $1,200
• "Solitare Cup" Relay - $600

New for 2023!  We are making the process of registering for the Around The Island® Swim easier by only requiring full payment of the registration fee if you're selected after a thorough review by our Selection Committee.  A $100 non-refundable application fee is required at the time of registration in order to cover the administrative costs of having the Selection Committee review your application & swim resume.  Should you be selected, you'll be notified of next steps, including payment of the balance of your registration fee.

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The 4th Annual Jim Whelan Open Water Festival has a cash purse for participants in the Individual Competitor & Mixed Relay Team categories!

Purse amount & prize breakdown coming soon!!!

"Solitare Cup" Relay Teams will be vying for the coveted "Solitare Cup," named in honor of the first ever finisher of the Around The Island® Swim, Edward Solitare!  

(Of course, bragging rights for a whole year are also just as coveted.)