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Map of Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim Course - Stage 1
Course:  411.0 Miles / 17 Stages
Schedule:  July 26 - August 28, 2025
Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim logo
Stage 1

Stage 1:  Edmund Fitzgerald Wreck Site

Ceremonial Start to Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim
Map of Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim - Stage 1
Map of Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim - Stage 1 (Whitefish Point Close-up)

DESCRIPTION:  It is tentatively planned that four relay swimmers will have the honor of ceremoniously starting the event over the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald and finishing at the Whitefish Point Lighthouse and site of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum.  Each swimmer will receive 2 complimentary passes to the museum.

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*  Stage 1 requires a special permit and approval is pending at this time.  Stage 1 may be waitlisted.

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TARGETED START DATE & TIME:  *Saturday, July 26, 2025 @ 7:00 a.m. EDT

NOTE:  Participants must commit to being on site and ready to swim from July 26th through July 27th.

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​START – Edmund Fitzgerald Wreck Site

FINISH – Whitefish Point (Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum & Lighthouse)

​MILEAGE:  17.3

 

MARINAS:  Whitefish Point State Harbor (Start & Finish)

HOTELS:  Magnuson Grand Lakefront Paradise (Start & Finish)

IMPORTANT NOTES
  • Every effort will be made to adhere to this event schedule.  A day off has been scheduled between each swim stage to accommodate for reasonable weather delays.  However, persistent weather delays could push back or push up start dates, altering the schedule. If this happens, we will make every effort to catch up and get back on schedule.

 

  • Swimmers wishing to participate in this event should have flexible personal schedules and plan to extend their stay beyond their single targeted start date.  *Weather could dictate swimming a day early, a day late, or on more than one day to finish a stage.  As a condition of your acceptance to participate, you must commit to being on-site and ready to swim on a scheduled off day occurring both before and after your targeted swim date.  This is a 3-day commitment, except for Stage 1 and Stage 17 (the first and last stages), which are 2-day commitments.  We will contact you as far in advance as possible if we are off schedule to the point it appears your start date may be moved outside of your 2 or 3-day window.  Participants unable to swim due to their start date being pushed outside the 2 or 3-day window will receive a refund of their entry fee, provided a replacement swimmer is secured from the waitlist.  Please read Refund Policy

 

  • Participants should be prepared for the possibility of swimming after dark.

 

  • Event staff will be staying at the hotels listed.  Swimmers may attempt to book hotel rooms in the staff hotels at their option and expense.  The event will attempt to negotiate a discounted room block for swimmers and their guests at staff hotels.  Please keep in mind however, that much of the swim route is in rural areas where hotel choices and the number of rooms are not plentiful, especially during these peak summer months when there is a high demand.  Availability may be limited and discounted rates may not be available. Event staff will offer complimentary roundtrip ground transfers for swimmers between the listed hotels and the swim course’s starting and finishing points or the marinas. 

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  • Support boats will be docked at the marinas listed.  Swimmers also have the option to take their support boat between the marinas and the start and finish lines.

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  • At this date, hotel and marina information is still subject to change.

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