20 Bridges: Swim Around Manhattan by DPB Core Athlete Caite Kappel

Athlete : Caite Kappel

START POINT: Pier A - Battery in NYC

END POINT: Pier A - Battery in NYC

Mode of Travel : Swim

Distance: 28.5 miles

Date of Completion: July 14, 2026

Levels of Support: Went with Urban Swim which had a support boat (captain, safety director, observer, crew and photographer) plus a Kayak.

Trip Report: “Since I started open water training and swimming, 20 Bridges was on my radar. I went with Urban Swim, and I recommend them so much. They had such a great plan for me and I felt safe the whole way. Rules for these swims is no wetsuit and you can’t touch the boat or Kayak at any point, no watch, etc. Gerry and Deanne from Urban Swim had come up with a plan for me that included a slightly later start than 7:30am which meant I had to swim against the current at the start but then would be more with the current after that. I had a boat with the captain, Gerry, an observer and Dan was my crew. Then there was also a Kayaker (Oscar) who I swam next to.

I was ecstatic when I heard I only had about an hour to go and I could see lower Manhattan and Statue of Liberty. Even though I couldn’t feel the current in the Hudson I knew I was moving and I especially noticed that as I was rounding the bottom of Manhattan. My finish time was 7hours 39 mins. Probably one of the most rewarding things I have done. Seeing the city from that perspective was just iconic. Especially backstroke under the GWB and seeing all the buildings.” - Caite Kappel