PIER2PIER SWIM ALL SET FOR 2024 RETURN NEXT SATURDAY

The Isle of Wight Marlins Swim Club’s annual Pier2Pier swim will return to The Bay next Saturday (20th July). Some 200 swimmers – of which around half are from the mainland – are set to take on the 1.8-mile challenge, which will begin adjacent to Sandown Pier at midday and end at Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club. The event has only happened once in the past 4 years due to COVID and weather cancellations in 2020, 2021 and 2023. A backup date of 3rd August has been secured for this year, in case bad weather hits on 20th July. Remarkably, this year marks the 70th anniversary of the race – with the Marlins Swim Club running it for the past 2 decades. The event couldn’t take place without many volunteers and local organisations including Sandown Shanklin Independent Lifeboat, Ryde Inshore Rescue, Shanklin Sandown Rowing Club, Ryde Beach Lifeguards, Shanklin Deep Sea Fishing Club, volunteer kayakers and many others for providing their time and expertise.