Since before the turn of the twentieth century, ocean swimmers have had aspirations of "Swimming the Light." The route chosen by these early adventurers, and dreamers, went from the bridges in Charlestown to the Boston Light, on Little Brewster Island, in the outer Boston Harbor, a distance of twelve miles. In 1907, a Boston Light Swim Race was inaugurated. Of the twenty-seven swimmers who dove in at the Warren Bridge in Charlestown that year, not one succeeded in touching the shore of Little Brewster Island. The very first known, and documented, swimmer to succeed in reaching Boston Light from Charlestown was Alois Anderle, in the Boston Light Swim Race of 1909. Anderle was 40 years old and a native of Austria, then living in New York City. His time was 5 hours, 40 minutes. Once other swimmers learned from Anderle's success that this marathon swim was possible, others followed with successful swims to Boston Light. Even though victory became more common after 1909, however, most of the contestants still failed to stay the whole course. In fact, of 435 starters of the Boston Light Swim Races between 1907 and 1941, 363 failed to reach the Light, most defeated by the cold and choppy water, and the seemingly endless distance involved. This book covers the Boston Light Swim Races for the years 1907 through 1941. After the race in 1941, the event was shut down for the duration of the war. Even though World War Two ended in 1945, the swim was not restarted until 1976, when Boston marathon swimmer, Jim Doty, took it upon himself to reorganize it. The Boston Light Swim Race continues, alive and well, to the present day. The percentage of contestants finishing the grind nowadays is much higher than that of the early era. This may be attributed to several factors, not the least of which is the shortening of the course to eight miles. Other factors may include: a greater knowledge of tides, currents and other conditions; the evolution of more efficient swimming styles and strokes. The swim is considered an excellent test for the aspiring English Channel swimmer. The conditions of both swims are similar, with cold and choppy water. The two main differences are the shorter distance, and the scarcity of stinging jellyfish in the Boston swim. Nevertheless, many swimmers have based their decision to make the trip to England upon their experience in the Boston Light Swim. Neither swim is a test for the faint of heart, and the simple attempt at either one is, in itself, a significant measure of success.

This manual contains vital information for parents including:
*How to select a qualified swim instructor and what to expect from the instructor.
*What makes a successful swim program and how to locate one near you.
*Determine the proper age to enroll children in swim lessons.
*Benefits of small group and private lessons.
*Advantage and disadvantage of parental involvement with lessons-parent /child instruction.
*Getting what you pay for.
*The importance of follow-up lessons for several years including stroke instruction classes.
*Water safety tips to prevent fatal accidents.
*Disadvantages of floatation devices for young children.
*Proper diving safety tips.
*Caution when allowing children to visit someone with a pool or body of water nearby.
This manual will inform parents on how to eliminate the anxiety and discomfort often associated with swim lessons. Parents must understand that the first phase in preparing their child for a successful experience with swim lessons is to accept responsibility in the child's learning process. This manual will help prepare the parents with that responsibility.

'I Found My Tribe is inspiring, humbling and a picture of what love really looks like' Marian Keyes An invocation to all of us to love as hard as we can, and live even harder, I Found My Tribe is an urgent and uplifting letter to a husband, family, friends, the natural world and the brightness of life. Ruth's tribe are her lively children and her filmmaker husband, Simon, who has Motor Neurone Disease and can only communicate with his eyes. Ruth's other 'tribe' are the friends who gather at the cove in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and regularly throw themselves into the freezing cold water, just for kicks. 'The Tragic Wives' Swimming Club', as they jokingly call themselves, meet to cope with the extreme challenges life puts in their way, not to mention the monster waves rolling over the horizon. 'Fitzmaurice tells her story in sparkling prose that is as sinewy as her new sea-strengthened body, and as admirable and boundless as her spirit', Sunday Times 'Uplifting and life-affirming' Stylist