“Get Wet For A Good Cause” At The 11th Annual Montauk Ocean Swim Challenge

If you’ve been spending countless hours in the water this summer, put those laps to use for a great cause during the 11th Annual Montauk Ocean Swim Challenge at Ditch Plains Beach on Saturday, July 20.

Presented by the Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation (MPCCF) and organized by the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue Squad, the event offers the rare chance to partake in an ocean race on the eastern seaboard. The Montauk Ocean Swim Challenge is open to swimmers of all ages and abilities, as participants have three different race lengths that they can choose from: a half-mile swim, a one-mile swim, and those that have been doing laps on the daily can take on the 5K swim. Each distance swim will have separate youth and adult divisions.

“The Montauk Community Center Playhouse Foundation is proud to partner with the East Hampton Ocean Rescue Squad for the 11th annual Ocean Swim Challenge,” Julia McCormack, Director of Development, Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation, relayed.

On-site registration and check-in opens at 5:30 a.m. The 5K swim begins at 6:30 a.m., followed by the one-mile swim at 7:30 a.m., and then the half-mile swim at 8 p.m. A Medal Ceremony and Post-Race Breakfast will be held at 9 a.m.

The registration fee ranges from $25 to $70, which includes a swim cap, t-shirt, participant medals and post-race refreshments. The Montauk Beach House (55 South Elmwood Avenue, Montauk) will host a pre-event registration on Friday, July 19 at 5 p.m.

The Montauk Playhouse Community Center Foundation’s mission is to raise funding for the restoration and development of the historic Montauk Playhouse, which will establish an imperative community center for the arts, education, recreation and human services.

“The funds raised at the event will benefit the construction of the future Aquatic Center at the Playhouse, providing the community with year-round fitness and recreational opportunities,” McCormack added.

Since 2006, half of the Montauk Playhouse Community Center has been operational and the Foundation is currently focused on raising the funding to complete the entirety of the historic building. The renovations will add an Aquatic Center with a 25-yard fitness pool, as well as 30’x 30′ leisure pool, and the second floor will be home to a Cultural Arts Center, a multi-use event space that could be used for a myriad of happenings, including theater performances, small and large gatherings, lectures, and conferences.

Ditch Plains Beach is located at Deforest Road in Montauk. For more information, visit montaukplayhouse.org.