Meet The Mermaids And Mermen

Pictured from L to R: Charlie Beggs (Harwich,) Amy Woods (Brewster,) Phil Kirby (Barnstable,) Nelly Lyons (Centerville,) Pam Rogers (Brewster,) Lindsay DiBona (Brewster,) Gravity Goldberg (Orleans.)

It was a chilly 59 degrees on Halloween Day morning when the swimmers met at 8:45 at Sheep Pond, Brewster to get into their sausage casings (wetsuits) and ready for a 9:00 AM water start. They all wore safety buoys so people can see them and are also somewhat of an aid for a tired swimmer. ​

BPC Communication Team member and open water swim competitor, Pam Rogers, who swam that day writes..." The wind is usually calm at the start in the sparkling cove near the boat ramp. It often is choppy around the left corner with wind and or a current. Yes, most people don’t realize there can be a “push” of water current or wind and waves from one end to the other. We often swim the left shoreline, and at a quarter mile there is a place we all know as “the branch.” Lots of times we regroup there. Around that corner is where the water surface can become choppy. Another 300 yards further down the left shore is what we call the “sandbar.” There are a couple of sunken boats there and if you aren’t careful and stay out from the shore, you can actually run aground and have to walk! We agreed that the most memorable part of the swim was that it was remarkable to see the trees and sky reflected in the water as we stroked along."​

Individuals in the group swam distances varying from 1300 yards (almost a mile) to 2400 yards, depending on the swimmers’ cold tolerances and swim goals for the day. Amy Woods is training for Ironman Arizona in late November. Pam Rogers will have an open water race in Florida December 4th, Lindsay and Gravity compete in adventure races where they swim, run, swim again, run again, (they both competed in Casco Bay, Maine and the Cape Cod SOS race). Phil, Nelly, and Charlie are Cape Cod triathletes. People swim at their own pace; however, we are mindful of each other’s safety and keep each other in sight during the swim and stops to chat. 

These sturdy swimmers are part of the New England Endurance Events (NEEE) Mermaids and Mermen group. Race training as well as fitness swimming at Sheep Pond and other Cape ponds and bays, the group was started by Kathleen Walker who is a triathlete and co-owner of NEEE. For more information about NEEE and to learn how to join the group which swims weekly at Sheep Pond contact Kathleen Walker at [email protected]

For a short video of the Halloween Day Swim Click Here.