Courtesy Photo by Abbi Kaszubowski On Monday, members of the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim crew kiss the dock at the Alpena Harbor after enduring hours of rough weather on Lake Huron.

ALPENA — Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim participants had to abort their swim nine miles short of their finish at Sturgeon Point Lighthouse due to mechanical issues.

Jim Dreyer, the event organizer, said the swim was aborted when the support boat battery began to die. This is the second time the swim crew has had to abort their swim at this stage of the event due to many weather and mechanical issues.

On Tuesday, Dreyer said the swim crew was set to finish stage 9 of the memorial swim around 9:45 to 10 p.m. When the boat began experiencing mechanical issues, they had to turn back to make it to the Alpena Boat Harbor before being stranded without power.

As of Tuesday night, Dreyer said the crew had yet to confirm a replacement support boat. They are looking to the community and anyone who is willing to lend a boat to help the crew finish out this stage of the swim.

Despite the challenges, Dreyer and the swim crew are determined to continue on with the memorial swim today, which commemorates 50 years since the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

Courtesy Photo Pictured from left, Alpena Township Supervisor Abbi Kaszubowski, Nancy Kunzat, president of the Thunder Bay Island Preservation Society, David Leitner, Sara Morgan, David Centner, and Jim "The Shark" Dreyer, event organizer, are seen on Monday at the finish of stage 8 of the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim. In part of stage 8, swimmers swam through the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS) waters.

Four swimmers rotate out every half mile of each stage of the swim until they reach a check-in point, Nancy Kunzat, president of the Thunder Bay Island Preservation Society, explained. She said the memorial swim is a “huge endeavour” and encompasses 411 miles of open water on the Great Lakes.

Kunzat told The News that swimmers checking in at Thunder Bay Island is significant because the landmark is not only culturally and historically important to the legacy of Northeastern Michigan maritime history, but it is also “a very powerful link to the Edmund Fitzgerald maritime tragedy.”

“The Thunder Bay Island Preservation Society is so proud that Thunder Bay Island and Alpena’s historic 1832 lighthouse was a stopping point of this incredible, historic swim commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Edmund Fitzgerald maritime tragedy and the 29 mariners who lost their lives,” Kunzat added.

The Thunder Bay Island Lighthouse was a beacon of safety, battling the unpredictable nature of Lake Huron for decades, according to Kunzat.

“The Great Lakes are like inland seas,” Kunzat said. She explained that the memorial relay swimmers have experienced the unpredictability of Lake Huron first-hand.

Courtesy Photo by Abbi Kaszubowski The Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim crew is seen aboard Windless, departing the Alpena Harbor for stage 9 of the memorial swim.

On Monday, swimmers had to abort their trip, 1.5 miles from Thunder Bay Island, according to Kunzat. When they arrived back at the Alpena Harbor, Kunzat said they departed from their boat and kissed the dock.

“They were so happy to be back on land,” Kunzat said.

Beyond the weather challenges, Kunzat explained that the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim support boat has also been experiencing mechanical difficulties and will not finish out the swim. After the first boat experienced issues, two community members stepped up to provide a temporary solution so the swim could continue.

“We are very excited to say that two of our members — Dan Braden and Rick Dunn — stepped up and volunteered to be the support boat,” for stage 9, Kunzat said.

The boat that aided the swimmers on Tuesday was called Windless.

Courtesy Photo by Abbi Kaszubowski On Tuesday, Jim “The Shark” Dreyer is seen preparing for the day’s swim aboard Windless, the temporary support boat for the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim.

Abbi Kaszubowski, Alpena Township Supervisor, explained that swimmers headed out on Windless at 6:30 a.m. to drop them off at stage 9 of the relay. The Windless also experienced issues, so another support boat is still needed in order to continue the memorial swim.

Kaszubowski also commented on the rough weather and the challenges the swimmers have had to face. She said that the determination of all involved speaks to the character of the community.

“Like the Edmund Fitzgerald, they didn’t want the memorial swim to sink as well,” Kaszubowski said. “As Michiganders, we come together to work through things.”

Kaszubowski noted the significance of the swimmers’ stop at Thunder Bay Island, which carries with it the origins of Alpena, where some of the first settlers marked their home.

“The lighthouse was used for over 100 years from any side — north or south — it was a beacon, the whole purpose was to help ships passing, to have that safe area,” Kaszubowski said. “It speaks to the power of mother nature and the power of the Great Lakes, as evidenced by the many shipwrecks we have.”

Courtesy Photo by Abbi Kaszubowski The Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim crew is seen aboard Windless, departing the Alpena Harbor for stage 9 of the memorial swim.

Corey Adkins, with the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish Point, said that the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim began on July 26 and includes 68 swimmers and 17 stages. Because the swim started over the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, the crew had to get special permission.

“We actually got permission from the Canadian ministry to do that because it’s illegal. Because the Fitzgerald actually lies in Canadian waters,” Adkins said. “So we got permission to do that, and they motored out there and did a nice ceremony, right over the Fitzgerald.”

Adkins said the money raised with the memorial swim will be donated back to maintain the Whitefish Point Lighthouse.

“It was built in 1861 and it’s old,” Adkins said. “We need a new roof and a lot of maintenance. We do house the bell of the Edmund Fitzgerald there, so it’s a very special place to a lot of people.”

Adkins said when the memorial swim was planned, Jim Dryer, the event organizer, said he wanted funds to go back into ensuring the lighthouse is preserved for future generations. In return, Adkins offered to film the entire swim.

Courtesy Photo by Abbi Kaszubowski On Tuesday, the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim crew is seen boarding Windless, the temporary support boat provided by Dan Braden and Rick Dunn.

According to Adkins, Lake Huron in particular has been a challenge for the swimmers the entire way.

“What some people don’t realize about Lake Huron, in August, is it’s very fickle,” Adkins said. “It doesn’t lay down like it does in June. June is usually the calmest month, but June is also colder … Lake Huron has been fighting them the whole way.”

Adkins also added that while the swimmers were making their way through the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary (TBNMS), they were fighting strong winds.

“Huron was just pushing them back … they’re barely getting any ground as they’re going,” Adkins said. “They’re fighting it every single stroke.”

If you have a support boat that could be used to assist the swimmers, contact Dreyer at 616-878-1650.

Kayla Wikaryasz can be reached at 989-358-5688 or kwikaryasz@TheAlpenaNews.com.

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Tuesday, the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim crew is seen docking at the Alpena Harbor. Jim Dreyer, event coordinator, said they were 9 miles from finishing before their support boat’s battery began to die. He said as of Tuesday night, they do not have a support boat replacement confirmed to finish out stage 9.

News Photo by Kayla Wikaryasz On Tuesday, the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim crew is seen at the Alpena Harbor after aborting their swim due to mechanical issues. The Windless, docked at the Alpena Harbor, was the swim crew’s support boat that replaced their previous one that began leaking oil on Monday.