In Search of Memphre 2024

 

Official Record

Caroline Block’s Swim the 25-Mile Length of Lake Memphremagog

 

  • Swimmer: Caroline Block, F, 40, Alexandria, VA
  • Start from Newport, VT at the Newport City Dock: 12:03 am on Monday, June 17, 2024
  • Finish at Magog, QC, at Parc de la Baie-de-Magog: 5:26 pm on Monday, June 17, 2024
  • Elapsed time: 17 hrs and 23 min.
  • Water Temp: 65 to 67 F
  • Air Temp: 54 to 75 F
  • Wind: Generally 3 MPH to 12 MPH from the SSE
  • Cloudy but no rain.
  • Escort Pilots: Phil White, Gary Coburn, Robert Roberge
  • Crew and Support: Janine Serell and Shelly Roberge
  • Second Support Boat: Vera Rivard, Margaret Rivard, Cynthia Needham, Benjamin Bryant, Kathleene Marcil.

 

For Photos of Caroline’s swim see: Caroline Block In Search of Memphre 2024.

Caroline swam steady throughout the swim. Her stroke speed was a generally around 46 strokes per minute throughout. Her speed was about 1.5 mph throughout with a little bump when the tail wind picked up. The swimming community sent Caroline messages throughout the swim, which were conveyed to Caroline by White Board.


Caroline’s swim was conducted in full compliance with traditional channel crossing rules as published by Marathon Swimmers Federation and has been ratified by the Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association on Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Caroline’s swim was the earliest crossing the length of Lake Memphremagog in history. 

 

During Caroline’s swim she was fed the following: infinit mix - chocolate and grape; hot chocolate; flat coke; root beer; blue Gatorade - with calories; maple syrup; maple brown sugar oatmeal; gold fish; Oreos; cheese; crackers; pretzels; peanuts. The solids came out in force during the last third of the swim.


The tail wind picked up between Ile Ronde and Lord’s Island, as if Memphre was giving Caroline a gentle push.


The swim completed the training for a growing group of Memphre Escort Boat Pilots: Gary Coburn, Robert Roberge, Benjamin Bryant, Kathleene Marcil, and Cynthia Needham. Vera Rivard and Margaret Rivard joined the ranks last year. Rob Andersen has served as a Memphre Escort Boat Pilot for many years. They will be available as Pilots and Co-Pilots for the 14 more Memphre Swims scheduled this summer. The expanded corps of Memphre Boat Pilots is made possible by a VOREC grant obtained by Newport City Downtown Development Corporation.

This year marks a return to the use of the Newport City Dock and Boat Ramp for the start of the swim. This was made possible with the support and approval of Mayor Linda Joy Sullivan, City Manager, Jonathan DeLaBruere, Mike Brown, Director of Newport City Parks and Recreation, and the Newport City Council. Spot Tracker services were provided by NEKOWSA in collaboration with Evan Morrison.


Caroline Block is an accomplished open water swimmer. Among her many swims, she has crossed the English Channel, swum around Manhattan Island, crossed the Santa Barbara Channel three times and the North Channel four times. In 2022 she was inducted into the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame as an Honor Swimmer. She now has her sights on the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims, including Loch Ness and Lake Tahoe in addition to Lake Memphremagog.


On Tuesday morning we signed one of Caroline’s nameplates and tacked the other to the wall of The Clubhous Garage. We celebrated with breakfast at The Brown Cow. Later that afternoon, Caroline recorded her swim on the ceiling above the bar at Jasper’s Tavern.

Kingdom Games now hosts over 50 days of swimming, running, and biking events in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and the Eastern Townships of Quebec. They are highly acclaimed, recreational athletic endurance events, challenging to the very best, with options that make them accessible for all, newcomers and seasoned veterans, young and old alike. They are held in venues that showcase the very best of the Northeast Kingdom, its four seasons, its wide open “vista riddled” roads, its legendary lakes, and its working agricultural landscape.


Over the past decade, Kingdom Games has drawn thousands of participants, kayakers, volunteers, friends and family from over 45 states and 4 Canadian provinces as well as Mexico, Argentina, Great Britain, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Latvia, Finland, Russia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, India, Australia, New Zealand and Switzerland. 


They have been made possible by a host of sponsors, partners, friends, and volunteers who support the mission of The Games to help make the Northeast Kingdom a mecca for these sporting communities of swimmers, runners, and cyclists.


Kingdom Games is a small business that pays taxes and, based on the principles of Newman’s Own, dedicates all net profits to local charities, organizations, and good causes. Over the past 9 years this has totaled over $65,000. We purchase all products and services from local businesses, whenever possible.