NEWPORT, R.I. -- The ripple effects of the federal government's imposed budget cuts are lapping at Save The Bay's annual swim, a major fundraising event and popular summer occasion.
In an e-mail sent out late Thursday, Jonathan Stone, Save The Bay's executive director, said the Navy informed the environmental group that because of the federal government's sequestration, its Naval War College could not host the start of the July 20 race.
But Stone said the 1.7-mile swim will go on -- for a 37th year.
"The Navy has been [a] great partner for more than three decades," Stone said. "Many of our swimmers are current or former Navy personnel. We hope the situation with the Navy can be resolved in the coming weeks. In the meantime, we are exploring alternatives."
Stone said the swim, which attracts hundreds of swimmers each year, "is one of the longest-running and most beautiful open-water charitable swims in the country. And we rely on the swim to fund our mission to protect, restore and explore Narragansett Bay."