Islanders (from left) Jean Lambert, Victor Lambert, Patrice Kilrow, Julie Kallfelz, Annie Benneville and Andrea Brayman made a strong showing in the annual Save the Bay swim last Saturday. Photo by Andrea von Hohenleiten A group of hardy swimmers – 433 of them, to be exact – turned out at dawn last Saturday, July 17, for the Citizens Bank/Save the Bay swim. It was the largest group ever to take part in the swim’s 34-year history.

Islander Jonathan McGowen, 36, was the top finisher with a time of 32:50.

Other strong finishes were recorded by islanders Bruce Novis, 45, at 34:41 and Victor Lambert, 19, at 42:00.

Andrea Brayman, 37, was the island’s top female finisher at 44:37. Jean Lambert, 49, also finished strong at 45:21.

The morning’s 6:30 a.m. start was one of the earliest in the swim’s history. Start times for the 1.7-mile trek are determined by optimum tides.

The swim’s 2010 fundraising goal is $240,000 from donations collected by swimmers and through corporate sponsorship. The final total will be announced in late August.