(August 2017 photo by David Hutchinson, from Boiland/Leslie swim)

Last August, Lauren Boilini and Jerome Leslie did it, one year after Erika Norris became the first swimmer to do it in more than half a century. We’re referring to what’s known as the Amy Hiland Swim, Bremerton to Alki Point, named after the woman who did it in 1959. In two weeks, a West Seattle woman’s going to take on the challenge. The announcement was sent by Andrew Malinak, president of the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association:

Rose Filer, 25, of West Seattle will attempt a solo swim crossing from Bremerton to Alki Light. Ms. Filer will make the attempt accompanied by a boat and crew, along with an official from the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association. The 10.4 mile swim, first completed in 1959 by Amy Hiland, will begin on August 31st at about 10:30 am and should finish at Alki Light around 4:00 pm.

Rose Filer is originally from Nederland, CO and moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington where she competed in rowing. She has been training regularly at Alki Beach for the past two years, and is very familiar with the challenges posed by the cold water, weather, and currents in this part of the Puget Sound. This will be Ms. Filer’s first marathon swim attempt.

The swim will be sanctioned and recorded by the Northwest Open Water Swimming Association (NOWSA), a 501c3 non-profit promoting the sport of marathon swim in the Northwest. In the spirit and traditions of marathon swimming, this swim will follow rules that do not allow for any assistance from heat-retention or buoyancy aids. NOWSA has sanctioned 4 successful attempts at the Bremerton-to-Alki route.

You’ll be able to track the event on August 31st, as with other NOWSA swims, at track.rs/nowsa.