Date: Fri 24-Sep-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: STEVEB

Quick Words:

Jim-Bayles-Manhattan-swim

Full Text:

Jim Bayles: The One-Man Circle Line

(with photo)

BY STEVE BIGHAM

Jim Bayles went for an early-morning swim Monday -- around the island of

Manhattan. He completed his journey 13 hours and 45 minutes later, making his

way out of the water in the dead of night, exhausted and sore.

The 47-year-old Newtown resident completed the 28-mile swim as part of his

annual iron-man fund-raiser for the fight against Juvenile Diabetes, from

which his father suffered for nearly 60 years. He expects to raise more than

$10,000 for this week's swim, upping his total to $75,000 in funds raised.

Mr Bayles began his long journey in the waters of the Harlem River near

Columbia University's Baker Field. At 8:15 am, with his wife, Trina, and

friends trolling in a boat alongside, the swimmer crossed under the Spyten

Deuvel Bridge before reaching the far northwestern tip of Manhattan. From

there, he made a sharp left turn and swam his way down the Hudson River, under

the George Washington Bridge, and passed the massive skyscrapers of America's

largest city. After swimming along the southern tip of the island past the

South Street Seaport and with the Statue of Liberty in the distance, Mr Bayles

headed north up the East River. There, he passed police boats, which were

guarding the United Nations. He was cheered on by the lunchtime crowd at

Battery Park and made it through the tricky waters of Hell's Gate near the FDR

Drive that afternoon. As night fell, the Newtown resident finally made his way

to the Harlem River, where the strong tide was flowing against him. It would

turn out to be the toughest challenge of the day.

"He was so tired," Trina recalled. "Finally, at about 8 pm, we picked up a

1«-knot tide, but it took forever. We finished at 9:30. It was late."

During the final stretch of river, the swimmer was greeted by youths throwing

beer bottles from the shore at 138th Street. Mr Bayles wasn't hit, but a

handful of bottles did smash on the deck of the boat.

"Thank God it was bottles and not bullets," Trina said.

Jim was also very startled when he swam into a very large, dead fish. In the

dark of night, one can only imagine what went through his mind.

A great deal of planning went into the swim as the Bayles carefully charted

the tricky tides around the city. While the Hudson River runs toward the

Atlantic Ocean, the East River flows to the south and the Harlem River flows

in the opposite direction. The Bayles were in regular contact with the Coast

Guard, which gave its okay for the swim.

"It was a long day, but he did it," Mrs Bayles said. "This was especially

tough because the hardest part came at the end."

The couple did not arrive back at their Butterfield Road home until midnight,

and Mr Bayles was up six hours later for a business flight to Chicago.

A Father's Inspiration

Mr Bayles' father suffered from juvenile diabetes from age 19 until the day he

died at age 75. Like Mr Bayles, his father managed to keep himself in shape

and, at his death, was believed to be the healthiest diabetic in the United

States in terms of complications caused by the disease.

Inspired by his father's determination to be healthy, Jim wakes up each

morning at 3:30 and makes his way to New Canaan's YMCA to train. From there,

he heads into New York City where he now works for the firm of Cushman &

Wakefield.

For Jim Bayles, swimming has been a lifelong passion. He began swimming

competitively at age five and recalls charting his "extra" laps using a map of

Manhattan. "We used it as a chart to determine how far we had gone. It took me

all summer to make it around," Mr Bayles recalled.

Ever since, the athlete has dreamed of actually doing what he finally got to

do this week.

Mr Bayles went to the nationals while at Dartmouth College where he excelled

in the 400 individual medley and barely missed qualifying for the 1972 Olympic

trials.

Jim and Trina moved to Newtown three years ago along with their three

daughters, Jen, Brooke, and Katie.

For more information on the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, call 203/972-1729.