Swim over 400 Miles of Lake Superior In Memory of the Edmund Fitzgerald

t’s hard to believe it’s been nearly 50 years since the fateful day that the Edmund Fitzgerald and its crew of 29 sank to the bottom of Lake Superior after departing from Detroit into a nasty storm. This historical event is so engrained in Michgander lore, that the song named after the shipwreck by Gordon Lightfood has practically become a state anthem.

Now, a swimmer is organizing an event that hopes to take back the fear of the choppy waters of Lake Superior while paying honor to those we lost half a century ago.

Organizer Jim Dreyer has swam in all of the great lakes, and is now challenging 68 others to join him in a 17 stage, 411 mile journey in honor of Michigan’s most infamous shipwreck. The proceeds from registration will to  Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) to help preserve the Whitefish Point light station.

Not only will these swimmers get to participate in a once in a lifetime swim between the shipwreck in Lake Superior to the coast of Detroit at Belle Island, they will also be a part of a documentary that is being made about the event.

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The swim will be happening next Summer on July 26th, 2025. (Since swimming in the lake on the actual November anniverary of the shipwreck, would be pretty reckless.)

Registration is open, and will likely fill up quickly so make sure you get signed up here if you want to particpate in this incredible race in honor one of Michigan’s most famous accidents.