Jeffrey Breen swimming into the sunrise - Photo by Karina Palmorino | | |
NEKOWSA NEWS
In Search of Memphre 2025
13 Solo Swimmer Scouts and
The Mighty Mermaid Relay Team
Complete
The Search continued in 2025 with 13 solo swimmers and one relay team completing the 25-mile international swim on Lake Memphremagog between Newport, VT and Magog, QC. They swam in 10 three-day windows (we pick the best day of the three), escorted by three pontoon boats, and piloted by a robust corps of trained, experienced and enthusiastic boat pilots, who know this lake by day and by night, in fair weather and foul, like the back of their hands.
Great good spirit was present throughout the year and throughout each window, from the initial pre-swim dinners (generally hosted by Darcie DeBlois Rivard), the swims themselves (there was some serious swimming throughout), and the post swim celebrations. (Nameplate signing and tacking on The Clubhous wall; breakfast at The Brown Cow; and ceiling signing at Jasper's Tavern).
Tracking services were provided by Kingdom Games in conjunction with Evan Morrison, allowing the growing community of open water swimmers and friends to follow each Search from start to finish.
The Clubhous was abuzz from June through September.
The following are window-by-window accounts of this year. Please note, there is a link to the MSF LongSwims Data Base for each Swimmer Scout who has a profile. Some come with Triple Crowns and more already completed. Some have even completed the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims. For others, Memphre was the longest swim of their lives. We couldn't be happier to welcome them all to the waters of Mighty Memphremagog.
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June 9, 2025 – Window 1 and June 16, 2025 – Window 2
They gathered. They swam. They Searched – finding cold water comfort in the belly of the beast of early June waters of Lake Memphremagog.
Four accomplished and humble swimmers completed the 25-mile international swim between Newport, VT and Magog, QC in Windows 1 and 2 to kick off the season In Search of Memphre 2025, hosted by Kingdom Games
| Approaching Lord's Island in Early June - Photo by Kathleene Marcil | |
Caroline Block, 41, of Alexandria, VA was the first in the water on June 9th, setting a new record for the earliest and coldest single crossing of the 25-mile stretch between Newport, Vermont and Magog, Quebec on Lake Memphremagog. Starting at 12:01 am from Newport City Dock she cleared the water at the beach in Magog, Quebec, at 5:28 pm for an elapsed time of 17:27.
Water temperatures ran between 62 F and 64 F (occasionally rising to 66 F. Wind speed generally ranged from 5 to 8 mph from the SSE, with gusts of 10 mph and lulls of variable speeds. Air temperature fell to the mid 50’s at night, rising to the mid 60s during the day. Skies were overcast most of the crossing, with occasional light showers.
Caroline’s escort boat, Molly, was piloted by Gary Coburn, Doug Johnson, Kit Kinne, and Bill Brown. Her crew for the crossing were Susan Knight, Carol Wortman, and Anita Hartsock. A second support boat, Lucky was piloted by Phil White, and Kathleene Marcil.
After 6 minutes on the shore, Caroline returned to the water to attempt a double crossing. But her speed slowed and the head winds picked up, as night fell. She pulled herself at 9:56 pm for an elapsed time on her return of 4 hours and 21 minutes.
Caroline's record-breaking single crossing should not, in any way, be tarnished by a "dnf" attached to her attempt of a double crossing.
For photos of the swim, see Memphre 2025 Photos - Window 1
This water was fresh and cold and presented an extraordinary challenge to even the best open water swimmers in the world. Caroline and the other three June swimmers have opened the way for colder water crossings in June and possibly even in May!
Caroline's 25-mile swim has been ratified by the Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association as having been conducted in full conformity with traditional channel crossing rules as published by MSF
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Captain Kinne and his pontoon boat, Chasin' Dreams joined us this year
- Photo by Kathleene Marcil
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On June 16, 2025, three other Swimmer Scouts completed In Search of Memphre. All three had completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. It appears that all three have the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims in their sights.
Miranda Wingfield, 29, of Medford, MA started from Newport, Vermont at 12:21 am and exited the water on to the beach in Magog. QC at 12:58 pm, for an elapsed time for completion of 12 hours and 37 minutes. Her escort boat, Lucky, was piloted by Phil White, Kathleene Marcil and Ben Bryant Her crew: Edward Wingfield.
Carol Wortman, 58, of Anapolis, MD, started from Newport, Vermont at 12:11 am and cleared the water in Magog, QC at 3:13 pm for an elapsed time for completion of 15 hours and 2 minutes. Her escort boat, Chasin' Dreams was piloted by Kit Kinne and Margaret Rivard. Her crew: Carol-Lynn Swol and Diana Corbin
Anita Hartsock, 51, of Silver Springs, MD, started from Newport, Vermont at 12:01 am and exited the water in Magog, QC at 5:57 pm for an elapsed time of 17 hours and 56 minutes. Her escort boay, Molly was piloted by Gary Coburn and Doug Johnson Her crew: Susan McKay and Emily McGee.
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Water temperatures generally ran between 63 and 65 F dropping to 60 F at night under Owls Head where the lake gets close to 400 feet deep. Winds ran from the SSE at 4 to 8 mph most of the way. Nighttime temperatures dropped to the upper 50s at night rising to the mid 70s during the day.
Here's a link to some photos of their swim, our pre swim dinner and our post swim celebration. Photos - Search 2025 - Window 2
Each of these three 25-mile swims has been ratified by the Northeast Kingdom Open Water Swimming Association as having been conducted in full conformity with traditional channel crossing rules as published by MSF
| These three made it look easy! - Photo by Kathleene Marcil | |
June 25, 2025 – Window 3
Thomas Heyerdahl, 62, of Ottawa, ON attempted a 25-mile border crossing, but he was suffering with a health issue and was still on antibiotics. He pulled himself just short of Georgeville and facing some moderate headwinds most of the way. This was the longest time in the water for Tom. It was also his longest nighttime swim. He just didn’t have the energy to swim further. His escort pontoon boat, Molly, was piloted by Gary Coburn and Margaret Rivard. He was crewed by Nadine Bennett and Sarah Dobbin
| A Return of The Polly with Some Serious Swimming - Photo by Kathleene Marcil | |
July 8, 2025 - Window 4
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, two solo Swimmer Scouts, Polly Madding, 45, of Boston, Massachusetts and Lisa Yamamoto, 32, of Vancouver, Washington and one relay team The Mighty Mermaids all completed the 25-mile swim between Newport, Vermont and Magog, Quebec. The Mighty Mermaids were led by Tracy Best Grilli, 68, of Londonderry, NH and included, Christie Ciraulo, 71, of Los Angeles, CA, Nancy Martin,, 71, of Oceanport, NJ, Karen Einsidler, 69, Longboat Key, FL, Veronica Hibben, 69, of Huntington Beach, CA with a special guest appearance by Elaine Kornbau Howley, 47, of Waltham, MA
Lisa Yamamoto was the first to enter the water at Newport City Docks and Boat Ramp at 4:00 am, clearing the water at Magog Bay Park at 6:51 pm for a total elapsed time of 14 hours and 51 minutes. Her escort pontoon boat, Chasing Dreams, was piloted by Kit Kinne and Rob Andersen. Her crew was Ryan DeWane.
Polly Madding entered the water in Newport at 4:10 am and exited in Magog at 9:55 pm for a total elapsed time of 17 hours and 45 minutes. Her escort pontoon boat, Lucky, was piloted by Phil White and Margaret Rivard. She was crewed by Laurie Craigen and Carol Pearl.
The Mighty Mermaids started in Newport at 4:20 am and cleared the water in Magog at 6:34 pm for an elapsed time of 14 hours and 14 minutes. Their escort pontoon boat was piloted by Gary Coburn and Douglas Johnson. David Grilli served as crew.
Water temperature ranged from 68 F to 72 F, Air Temperature dropped to 64 during the night and rose to 69 F during the day and into the lower 70s in the late afternoon and evening, At the beginning of the swim, winds ran between 2 and 6 mph from the NNW but. shortly before 5 pm, shifted to a southerly tail wind of about 4 mph. Skies were overcast for most of the crossing but cleared to a cloudless, sunny sky shortly before 5 pm. The evening warmed, the winds died altogether, and the moon was two days past full, making for one of the most stunningly beautiful returns to Newport, ever. Memphre smiled brightly for us.
Polly Madding has grown as a swimmer here in the lakes of the Northeast Kingdom. In 2024 she completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming with a gnarly crossing of the English Channel. For Lisa Yamamoto, this was the longest swim of her life. The Mighty Mermaids have been doing annual relay swims for the past 17 years.
NEKOWSA has ratified each of these two solo swims as being completed in full conformity with traditional channel crossing rules as published by Marathon Swimmers Federation. The Relay Swim by the Mighty Mermaids has also been ratified by NEKOWSA as being completed in full conformity with traditional channel crossing rules for relays.
Here's a link to some photos: Photos - The Search 2025 - Window 4
| Mighty Mermaids Signing One of Their Nameplates - Photo by Kathleene Marcil | Polly and Lisa Signing the Ceiling at Jasper's Tavern- Photo by Kathleene Marcil | Tacking the Other Nameplate to the Clubhous Wall - Photo by Kathleene Marcil | |
July 15, 2025 - Window 5
On Tuesday, July 15, 2025, Amanda Smith Dakowicz, 39, of Portsmouth, New Hampshire and Erica Merz, 41, of Stow, Massachusetts completed the 25-mile international swim between Newport, VT and Magog, QC In Search of Memphre.
Amanda entered the water at Newport City Docks and Boat Ramp at 12:01 am and cleared the water at Magog Bay Park at 2:08 pm for an elapsed time of 14 hours and 7 minutes. Her escort pontoon, Chasin’ Dreams, was piloted by Kit Kinne and Bill Brown. She was crewed by her husband, Gabe Dakowicz, and her sister, Stephanie Smith.
Erica entered the water in Newport at 12:11 am and exited in Magog at 1:20 pm for an elapsed time of 13 hours and 9 minutes. Her escort pontoon was piloted by Phil White and Kathleene Marcil. She was crewed by Peter Mertz.
Water temperature was about 72 F, Wind speed varied from 4 mph from the NNE to calm and then about 6 MPH from the south. Memphre giving a gentle push to finish the swim. Air temperature varied from mid 60’s during the night to 80 F mid day.
Both Erica and Amanda had completed Border Buster at Kingdom Swim. Their swim In Search of Memphre is the longest swim of their lives.
NEKOWSA has ratified each of these two swims as being completed in full conformity with traditional channel crossing rules as published by Marathon Swimmers Federation
Here's a link to some photos of the swim: Photos - The Search 2025 - Window 5 and More
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August 12,2025 - Window 6
On Tuesday, August 12th, 2025, Tracy Knight completed an impressive Search for Memphre the 25-mile distance of Lake Memphremagog. She entered the water at Newport City Dock and Boat Ramp at 12:11 and exited at Magog Bay Park at 1:38 pm for an elapsed time of 13 hours and 27 minutes. Water temperature varied from the mid 70s during the night to 80F during the afternoon. Air temperature reached a high of 90 F, Tracy enjoyed a slight tail wind through most of the swim of 2 to 4 mph. Her crew: Stephen Rouch and Janine Serell. Her boat: Lucky piloted by Vera Rivard and Phil White of Kingdom Games Vermont Support on the shore was provided by Darcie DeBlois-Rivard, Kathleene Marcil, Margaret Rivard, and Geneve and Peter Channell.
NEKOWSA has ratified this swim as being completed in full conformity with traditional channel crossing rules as published by Marathon Swimmers Federation
Also swimming in Window 6 was Eric Schall, 64 of Kingston, PA. He had been suffering from a parasitic infection since a swim on July 4th. He pulled himself after 6 miles when he lost his energy and could not maintain his pace.
Here's a link to some photos of these swims: Photos - The Search 2025 - Window 6
| Anke Höhne with 8 miles to go - Photo by Kathleene Marcil | |
August 19, 2025 – Window 7
On Tuesday, August 18, 2025, Anke Höhne, 54, of Hamburg, Germany completed a 25-mile international swim on Lake Memphremagog between Newport, VT and Magog, QC, In Search of Memphre Also completing this swim in Window 7 was Heather Roka, 39, of Fort Myers Florida.
Anke entered the water at the Newport City Docks and Boat Ramp at 12:01 am and exited on the beach at Magog Bay Park at 6:45 pm for an elapsed time of 18 hours and 44 minutes
Heather entered the water in Newport at 12:21 am and exited in Magog, QC at 1:19 pm for an elapsed time of 12 hours and 58 minutes.
Piloting Anke’s escort pontoon boat, Molly, were Captain (and chef), Gary Coburn and Douglas Johnson. Crewing for Anke were her husband , Peter Wortelker and Eri Utsonomiya (who kayaked for Anke at 20 Bridges)
Piloting Heather’s escort boat, Lucky, were Vera Rivard and Phil White. Crewing for Heather was her mother, Cynthia Roka.
Water temperature dropped to about 71 F. Air Temperature dropped to about 45 F at night and rose to 71 F during the afternoon. There was a light tail wind most of the way.. After two weeks of heat wave, water was losing heat. In the morning mist spirals appeared reflecting this loss. Skies were clear for a while, with a wonderful crescent moon, becoming overcast during the night, with a brilliant sunrise. Morning was overcast but cleared during the afternoon.
Both Anke and Heather are Triple Crowners (English Channel , Catalina and Around Manhattan Island) Heather has double crossed the English Channel. Anke has swum Loch Ness and is now looking to swim Lake Tahoe to complete the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims.
Each of their swims has been ratified by NEKOWSA as rigorously complying with traditional channel crossing rules as published by Marathon Swimmers Federation
Also swimming in Window 7 was Jeffrey Breen, 57, of Ashburn, Virginia, who swam 16 miles (just past Georgeville) before he pulled himself. He was piloted by Kit Kinne and Margaret Rivard and crewed by Karina Palmorino. Jeffrey’s longest swim before this was the Border Buster at Kingdom Swim. His swim past Georgeville is the longest time in the water and his longest night swim. And his crew Karina Palmorino was able to catch the best photo of the season as Jeffrey swam into the sunrise.
Here's a link to some photos of these swims: Photos - The Search 2025 - Window 7
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After a cold night on the boat = Captain Coburn's culinary skills never tasted so good
- Photo by Eri Utsonomiya
| Some wonderful support swimming throughout the summer - Photo by Vera Rivard | |
August 27-28, 2025 - Window 8 - Shannon House Keegan
Shannon House Keegan, 50, of Talent, OR undertook a double crossing, but unrelenting headwinds that rose from 4 mph to 13 mph forced her to pull herself after completing 35 miles.
She entered the water at 3 pm on August 27, 2025, at the Newport City Docks and Boat Ramp, swam through the night and landed at Magog Bay Park at 6:57 am on August 28, 2025 for an elapsed single crossing time of 15 hours and 57 minutes. After 3 minutes on the beach, she re-entered the water at 7:00 am and swam approximately 10 more miles before pulling herself at 5:01 pm swimming the last 10 miles at a rate of approximately 1 mph. Total time in the water was 26 hours and 1 minute.
Piloting her escort pontoon boat, Lucky, were Gary Coburn, Kit Kinne, and Vera Rivard, Her crew for this swim were, Nadine Bennett, Janine Serell, and Justine Beauchesne. Ground support was provided by Phil White, Kathleene Marcil, and Darcie Rivard
Her swim was run in full conformity with traditional channel crossing rules as published by MSF and has been ratified as a single crossing of Lake Memphremagog by NEKOWSA.
Shannon's first competitive open water swim was a 1 mile wetsuit swim at Kingdom Swim in 2009. She worked the Kingdom Swim Ladder, swam the length of Lake Memphremagog in 2019. She has since completed the length of Lake Tahoe and Loch Ness to complete the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims. (Her swim of Loch Ness remains unratified, through no fault of herself or her crew)
Here's a link to some photos of Shannon's swim: Photos - The Search 2025 - Window 8
| Paula Yankauskas before her second Search two years ago - Photo by Kathleene Marcil | |
September 1-2, 2025 - Window 9 - Paula Yankauskas
On the evening of September 1, 2025, at 7 pm Paula Yankauskas, 70, of Hyde Park, VT, began her attempt to double cross (50 miles) Lake Memphremagog, In Search of Memphre,
She entered the water from Magog Bay Park, planning to swim through the night while she was still fresh. She had a slight tail wind at the start with water temperatures in the mid 60's F with hight time temperatures falling into the mid 40's.
She expected to swim slowly, 18 to 20 hours for the first crossing. and she was meeting or exceeding her expectations, but after about 18 miles, she began to experience shortness of breath. She could breath, but not deeply. At the 20 mile mark, just as she got to the US Border she pulled herself.
Her escort boat: Chasing Dreans, Her pilots: Kit Kinne, Karina Palmorino. (with alrenates ready for the second leg: Gary Coburn and Doug Johnson. Her Crew: Valerie Yankauskas and Janet Harris. Ground support by Kingdom Games, Phil White, Kathleene Marcil, Peter Channell and Patricia Rickart.
Paula started swimming open water events with us, swimming short distances in a wet suit. She climbed the Kingdom Swim ladder, ditching her wet suit along the way. Paula swam the length of Lake Memphremagog twice, once when she was 60, once when she was 69. Between those swims she completed the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. She frequents Cork Distance Week (CDW) and is a repeat offender at SCAR SWIM. She is a regular at the Swimming Hole in Stowe and the Green River Reservoir in Hyde Park.
Paula has long dreamed of completing a double crossing Lake Memphremagog. She has the quieet, feirce determination to accomplish this while in her 70s. But, she listened to her body, and in doing so taught us all a bigger, better lesson about open water swimming. Ut's not just hyperthermia or cramps that can cut a swim short. There is Swimmer Induced Pulmonary Endema and cardiac issues that can arise on a moments notice. Even as swimmers have disciplined themselves to push through pain and nausea during a swim, it is hard to listen to symptoms like Paula's and make the decision to live to swim another day.
She's all right. But, thank you, Paula, for your determination AND your wisdom!
| Air Temp: 42 F at Ryan's 5 am start - Photo by Karina Palmorino | |
September 9, 2025- Window 10 - Ryan Stille
Ryan Stille, 51, of Oakton, VA was our last Swimmer Scout of this remarkable season In Search of Memphre. Because nighttime temperatures were beginning to fall into the lower 40's F, ,Ryan started his swim from Newport at 5 am on September 9, 2025. He completed his swim in Magog at 5:28 pm after swimming for 12 hours and 28 minutes.
Water temperature was in the mid 60's F, with a slight tail wind half way up the lake. Day was sunny with temperatures in the mid 60's But the start was clear and cold.
Piloting Ryan's escort boat, Chasin' Dreams,, were Kit Kinne and Gary Coburn, with Karina Palmorino serving as his crew, Tracker service and logistical support was provided by Phil White, Kathleene Marcil and Kingdom Games
Ryan's swim was done in full conformance with traditional channel crossing rules as published by MSF and has been ratified by NEKOWSA.
Ryan has only recently begun to swim marathon distances. He has completed Border Buster at Kingdom Swim and has swum 20 Bridges (28 miles around Manhattan). This past April he completed SCAR and then came roaring into The Search. This is his longest non=current assisted swim of his life. Bravo, Ryan, we can't hardly wait to see what the future has in store for you!
Here's a link to some photos of Ryan's swim: Photos = The Search 2025 - Window 10
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Ceiling Signing at Jasper's Tavern where the beer is cheap and the company is bad
- Photo by Kathleene Marcil
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Thanks
While Clubhous Gangstas, Gary Coburn Kit Kinne, and Karina Palmorino. were chasing Ryan Stille speedy quick up the lake, other Gangstas, Ray and Donna Dauphinais and Kathleene Marcil were busy pulling Lucky and Molly pff the boat lifts and driving them into town to begin their Fall migration back to Effie's Barn.
Over the years, we have recruited, blackmailed, and by hook or by crook assembled a remarkable crew of Clubhous Gangstas who make The Search possible. We'd like to thank them here
Our core, battle hardened, "muscle" of The Games year in and year out for each and every one of our running, biking and swimming events
- Kristian Pearson
- Peter Channell
- Geneve Channell
- Kathleene Marcil
- Darcie DeBlois Rivard
Our corps of trained and experienced escort boat pilots and co-pilots who have allowed us to expand In Search of Memphre to accommodate the growing interest in this iconic swim and the Triple Crown of Lake Monster Swims (Loch Ness, Memphremagog, and Tahoe).
- Gary Coburn
- Kit Kinne
- Vera Rivard
- Margaret Rivard
- Doug Johnson
- Karina Palmorino
- Bill Brown
- Rob Andersen
- Benjamin Bryant
Some of the many other Gangstas, at the ready to help as needed whenever they are needed.
- Kevin Rivard
- Pam Ladds
- Teresa Gerade
- Donna Dauphinais
- Ray Dauphinais
And our friends in the broader open water swimming community who have been especially supportive in creating and expanding In Search of Memphre
- Elaine Kornbau Howley
- Ned Denison
- Evan Morrison
- Steven Munatones
- Greg O'Connor
- Quinn Fitzgerald
- Bill Ship
- Sarah Thomas
But most of all, the good hearted, high spirited, and ever inspiring Swimmer Scouts, crews, and boat pilots who have joined The Search over the years. We are proud to be part of this journey.
We could not close our Summer of Searches without thanking our core sponsors, Community National Bank and Jay Peak Resort and extending our appreciation to the City of Newport, Newport Downtown Development Corporation and the City of Magog for their support in so many ways, large and small.
In Search of Memphre was started 15 years ago in 2011 to revive international swimming between Newport, VT and Magog, QC, to promote a more open border with our Canadian friends, to search for our elusive lake creature, Memphre, and to do some good along the way. Since then, 72 Swimmer Scouts have completed the swim. Four of whom have completed a 50-mile double cross and five of whom have swum the distance more than once, Seven more have already signed up for 2026. See The Search 2026
We seek our elusive, swimmer-friendly Memphre, with the support of Barbara Malloy, Vermont's First Lady Dracontologist and in coordination with the Canadian Border Services Agency and US Customs and Border Protection.
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Tito on the leap at The Clubhous
Our Theme for the Year: "You Can't Keep a Bad Dog Out of Trouble"
Photo by Kathleene Marcil
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