Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California.

Dewees Island is a barrier island north of Charleston, South Carolina that is accessible only by ferry or private boat.

It was there that Joe Rainero planned, attempted and completed the first circumnavigation swim around the private island.

“I knew there is a submarine tower from World War II on Dewees Island.

So I called it The Swim Around Dewees Island and the Submarine Tower Swim,” explained Rainero who was escorted by pilot Johnny Crompton around the 6.23-mile (10.02 km) circumnavigation.

Starting at 8:34 am south of the submarine tower, he finished at 11:38:45 am for a time of 3 hours 4 minutes and 45 seconds for the swim. “The water was cool and then warm going into Dewees Inlet. Then it became very cool on the back side of the island again. The air temperature increased throughout the swim with small chop and swells near the beach.”

Copyright © 2015 by World Open Water Swimming Association