May 28, 2006 – In the cool of an early Sunday morning, three rows of swimmers stood on a beach wearing different-colored bathing caps. At the sound of the conch shell, the first row of pink caps rushed the waterline and churned up the water, 50 feet out, then strung out in a line of pink dots and white dashes as their strokes cut through the water.
A few minutes later, the green caps ran into the surf, followed by the swimmers in their purple caps – each group with a different destination.
It was the third year for the Beach-to-Beach Power Swim, a sporting event which organizers say is growing in popularity, attracting swimmers from as far as Florida and from the three largest U.S. Virgin Islands.
In a little under 90 minutes, 15-year-old Annie Myrvang, a home-schooled student from St. Croix, made her mark in the waters off St. John, finishing first in the power swim long course from Maho Bay to Hawknest Bay, nearly three miles.
"I started swimming when I was 12, when I first moved to the Virgin Islands. I love it. It's my favorite thing to do," said Myrvang. "It was a tough swim but it was fun. I love it."
Myrvang led the field of roughly 40 swimmers who opted for the long course. Another, smaller group chose the middle course from Maho to Trunk Bay. The rest swam from Maho to the closest bay over, Cinnamon Bay. The swimmers ranged in age and experience, from grade schoolers to seniors.
"This is the largest field we've had," said organizer Karen Brady, with the Friends of the V.I. National Park. Brady credited the growing popularity of the race, in part, to the efforts of Peter Alter, promoter of St. John's annual 8 Tuff Miles road race.
Brady was asked how tough is it to swim from bay to bay. "Depending on fitness level and comfort, it would take somebody 40 to 45 minutes to get from here to Cinnamon," she said, at the starting line.
Traditionally, she said, swimmers either opt for the short course or the long course. A modest group of competitors are setting their sights on Trunk Bay this year, she said, adding that she hopes to see it grow in favor.
St. John resident Betty Mahoney decided to try something new this year. "Last year I did the shorty, but I practiced it last week," she said of the Trunk Bay course.
She said she almost got lost and at one point found herself headed for Tortola. The next time she tried a practice run, Mahoney said she almost beached herself short of her goal.
"This time I looked where I was going," she said. Then she went off to find her bag of belongings, and her glasses.
Most of the swimmers said they were pleased with the course, the calm, clear waters on St. John's North Shore.
"It was great, all the big fish," said cafe owner Megan Iffland. "I had goggles on and saw a couple of sting rays."
Others simply said they were glad for the swim. High school art teacher Lisa Etre and her son, Christopher Scatliffe, took the short course to Cinnamon. "This is my third year," Etre said. "C'mon, you live on an island and with water like this – you have to swim."
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