Swimmers trace Fitzgerald’s final route
A new documentary details the 411-mile relay completed in 2025 to honor the 29 crew members lost on Lake Superior in 1975.
By Abigail Brooks ·
For 50 years, the wreckage of the Edmund Fitzgerald has rested on the floor of Lake Superior. The freighter sank during a storm on Nov. 10, 1975, killing all 29 men on board. Last year, a group of open-water athletes took to the same waters to mark the half-century anniversary of the disaster.
Seventy swimmers completed a 411-mile relay that mirrored the ship's final voyage. The route began at the site of the shipwreck and concluded on Belle Isle in Detroit. The team divided the distance into 17 stages over a period of 38 days. The most demanding leg required swimmers to cross 35 miles of Lake Huron between the Upper and Lower Peninsulas.
Jim Dreyer, an open-water swimmer known as The Shark, directed the project. He began planning the event in 2023 when the 50th anniversary approached. Dreyer stated that he wanted to ensure the legacy of the crew survived for future generations. He noted that the goal was to keep the memory of the 29 men alive until the 100th anniversary.
The conditions on the Great Lakes presented constant physical risks. Swimmers battled storms with waves reaching 15 feet and suffered from sports injuries. Dreyer recalled a near-collision with a boat that underscored the danger of the open water. He described the event as having more moving pieces than any other he had organized in 30 years.
The participants included individuals from diverse backgrounds. Sheila Fitzgerald, a relative of the ship's namesake, traveled from London to join the relay. Corey Adkins, the documentary's director, noted that each stage featured a unique personality among the swimmers. He highlighted a participant called Smilin' Mike, who remained cheerful despite the harsh conditions.
The emotional core of the project centered on Heidi Wilhelm Brabon. Her father, Blaine Wilhelm, worked as an oiler on the Edmund Fitzgerald. She was 12 years old when the ship sank. Adkins texted her updates throughout the final stage. Brabon was present on Belle Isle to greet the swimmers as they finished the journey.
The film We Finished Their Journey: The Story of the Edmund Fitzgerald Memorial Swim premiered at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2026. It is available in select theatres and on the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society YouTube page.
