25 swimmers escape from Saipan

The sun was up, the water was blue, and the course was true for 25 swimmers as they braved the waters from Pau Pau Beach to Managaha Island to complete a seven-kilometer adventure accompanied by a small fleet of kayaks on Saturday afternoon.

The group of multisport enthusiasts consisting of avid runners, competitive swimmers, and casual triathletes looking for a thrill broke into three groups based upon their aquatic skills and took off in 15-minute intervals with the strongest starting last to provide a nearly uniform finish two and a half hours later.

As they made their way south along spine of Saipan, the swimmers were privy to an underwater wildlife display that included corral forests, an innumerable collection of multihued fish, eagle rays, starfish, and the power of Mother Nature.

Even the most experienced swimmers of the group had some difficulty along the way battling the waves and staying above the corral in the shallowest of places, but everyone who reached the shores of Managaha Island was happy to have made the journey.

The idea to make the trip came from Rob Carruth—the same adventure taker who formed a group that swam from the beach behind Coral Ocean Point to Tinian. The trip to Managaha actually covered more distance, and it attracted more extreme swimmers as well.

Before starting out on their journey, the group met at Pau Pau Beach to discuss their strategy and safety before posing for a picture by the water. After loading up on sunscreen, the swimmers donned their brightly colored caps donated by coach Michael Stewart and the Saipan Swim Club and their goggles and watched as the first group started out to sea.

The support craft were close at hand the whole way as a flotilla of 10 kayaks offered a floating rest stop and mobile refreshment stations equipped with water and PowerAde to those who needed it along the way.

Though it was not a race by any means, Wayne Bramlett of the Saipan International School sure swam like it was as he rocketed through the water to come from behind with the third group to become the first to reach the sandy shores.

While no plans have been announced for a repeat of the 4.5-mile feat, there were several conversations on the ferry ride to Saipan about making the swim an annual event. The swim was perhaps Carruth’s last great athletic foray in the CNMI after completing the Rota Half Marathon, the Rota Blue Triathlon, and the Turkey Trot within the past month, as he is moving to Tucson, Arizona shortly.

With any luck, Carruth will rejoin the group next year for another shot at the course.