one hundredth Chincoteague Pony Swim Sees Increased Safety Presence, Says Captain of the Port

The Chincoteague Pony Swim and Auction is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary immediately, as spectators on land, on boats, and constitution or kayak excursions have ventured out within the very early morning hours to look at the historic swim.

On the eve of the swim, we spoke to the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port about what it takes to maintain the ponies secure, spectators on the water secure, and any doable safety threats at Bay at this distinctive occasion.

Each 12 months since 1925, the Saltwater Cowboys of the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Department herd the wild ponies from their grazing grounds on Assateague Island to swim throughout the channel to the Chincoteague shore. There, they’re auctioned off to lift cash for the maintenance of the herd.

The occasion has change into so well-liked that the city of Chincoteague sees an inflow of an estimated 50,000 spectators for the week of the Pony Swim. Insiders know that the perfect view is from the water, so folks flock to the realm in leisure boats, paddlecraft, and on constitution sightseeing journeys.

 Captain Peggy M. Britton, Captain of the Port for U.S. Coast Guard Sector Virginia, says with favorable climate this 12 months, a number of thousand folks had been anticipated to be on the water. Britton tells us that coordinating an on-water occasion like that is no small feat, and Coast Guard planning has been underway for seven months. Most lately, USCG helped launch the Saltwater Cowboys’ barge and positioned the protection zone buoys for the realm the place the ponies swim.

The Coast Guard has known as upon Stations Chincoteague, Wachapreague, Little Creek, together with Portsmouth and the Aids to Navigation workforce stationed proper in Chincoteague. At least seven Coast Guard vessels, starting from 27 to 87 ft lengthy, had been dispatched to help the occasion’s water security, to not point out private watercraft patrols by the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Department of Wildlife Resources vessels, and different federal and native regulation enforcement. Britton mentioned crews had been due on deck at 3 a.m. Wednesday morning to get into place for Pony Swim day. The swim is historically run at slack tide, which was forecast for about 8:30 a.m. this 12 months.

This collaborative regulation enforcement effort with different businesses might have been particularly necessary for this 12 months’s massive anniversary. In early April we reported that the Chincoteague mayor heard of a “credible” menace towards the one hundredth Pony Swim, and additional safety precautions had been introduced at the moment. Coolers, umbrellas, and enormous luggage had been banned or restricted and additional safety screenings had been added.

Britton says she has no credible cause to consider one thing would occur, however regulation enforcement has been working collectively proactively on a really seen presence “to deter any would-be bad actor.” She says USCG has been getting out in entrance of the occasion, working in shut collaboration with Virginia police.

“The best possible scenario is that we’re there and absolutely nothing happens. It wouldn’t be prudent if we didn’t have an increased security presence,” she explains. Britton sings the praises of the cooperative efforts of the unified command for the occasion. “We have really strong local leadership that is willing to accept outside resources… and an entire community of public responders,” she says.

For her personal half, Britton is happy to have led the Coast Guard efforts for the final ten years of the Pony Swim as a result of, properly, she’s a fan. “When I first came into this role in 2015 I was thrilled to discover that it’s one of the many on-water events we coordinate. For me personally it was extremely gratifying because as a girl I read Misty of Chincoteague.” Like many readers of the favored novel collection, she’s captivated by the thought that a few of the ponies swimming immediately are descendants of the lineage of Misty.

“There’s just something exhilarating about seeing this event,” she shares.

After the Coast Guard finishes holding the protection zone Wednesday, their presence will stay on the water for the remainder of the week to make sure secure leisure boating throughout all the festivities. You can the schedule for the remainder of Pony Swim week here.