First there was Drury Gallagher (IMSHOF Class of 2011) and Thomas Hetzel (IMSHOF Class of 1980, MSF bio here) with the Manhattan Island Swimming Association.
Then there was Morty Berger with NYC Swim.
Now there is New York Open Water with David Barra (USA, 59, MSF bio here, @david.barra), Rondi Davies, PhD (Australia, 53, MSF bio here), and Alex Arévalo with New York Open Water.
Gallagher and Hetzel ran the original Manhattan Island Swimming Association between 1983 and 1993.
Berger organized NYC Swim races between 1993 and 2017.
The trio of Barra, Davies, and Arévalo has managed New York Open Water and its myriad events since 2017.
Individually and collectively, they – and an army of dryland volunteers, boat pilots, observers, support crew, and escort kayakers – have developed Manhattan Island as an international open water swimming hotbed.
It is never easy or simple dealing with local, regional, and national governmental agencies that govern the waters of the Hudson River, East River, and Harlem River. From a time when swimming in New York’s waterways was considered an impossible activity at worse – or a laughable pastime at best – to now when many vision swimming around Manhattan – open water swimming has survived and thrived from the nearly impossibly long 91.8 km 40 Bridges Double Manhattan Island Swim to the most definitely long 193 km 8 Bridges Hudson River Swim.
Barra explains, “With spring almost here, we are getting ready for the season. Once again, we are honored by interest from swimmers from all over the world who wish to experience our beautiful, historic waterways and excellent support. This year’s calendar runs from June 21st to October 10th with 8 tidal windows for the 20 Bridges Swim Around Manhattan plus dates for 40 Bridges and the Ederle-Burke Swim.
If you are interested in helping at events, please sign up as a paddler or boat observer here. If you wish to sign up for different roles at different events, submit a separate form for each role. For example, submit the form once with your boat observer availability, and submit the form again for any paddler registrations.
Our coordinators will confirm volunteer assignments closer to the start of the season. Boat observers should be prepared to spend a full day on the water, generally on a boat open to the elements with no toilet. Paddlers should likewise be prepared to spend a full day on the water and should bring their own gear, though we supply kayaks. Volunteers receive a stipend soon after completing an assignment.”
For more information, visit nyopenwater.org.
© 2025 Daily News of Open Water Swimming
“to educate, enthuse, and entertain all those who venture beyond the shoreline“
A World Open Water Swimming Federation project.