Hungry swimmers brave 10-mile journey from Coney Island to Red Hook for annual Key Lime Pie Swim

Four long-distance swimmers braved the waters of the Atlantic Ocean on Saturday for the annual Key Lime Pie Swim.

Photo by Erica Price

Four swimmers from the Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers braved the waters of the Atlantic Ocean for the annual “Key Lime Pie Swim” on July 29, paddling all the way from Coney Island to Red Hook, all for a bite of Steve’s Authentic Key Lime Pie.

Since July of 2020, CIBBOWS founder Capri Djatiasmoro has organized the 10-mile swim to Steve’s as part of her “foodie swim” program, which sees long-distance open-water swimmers plunge into the sea to traverse to local food destinations.

Djatiasmoro plans the swims by finding eateries she’d like to try or has seen on social media before taking a look at currents to determine the safest routes to swim, and then works with the NYPD Harbor Unit and the Coast Guard to ensure swimmers can navigate the routes with support from following safety boats

“A friend of mine on Facebook, he posted this barbecue and I said ‘Oh my god, that looks delicious, where is it?’” Djatiasmoro told Brooklyn Paper “And he said ‘Oh that’s Juicy Lucy’s in Staten Island.’ So of course, being the nut job I am, I immediately look it up and it’s right across from Coney Island. I said ‘Oh my god we can swim there!’”

The idea proved popular, and Djatiasmoro now plans several long distance “foodie swims” each year for members CIBBOWS. 

“It’s okay to train and all that stuff, but you gotta have fun too,” Djatiasmoro said. “We do shorter swims, we swim from Brighton four [pier] to up to the Wonder Wheel, Paul’s Daughter and we get out, under a mile swim. It’s a lobster roll swim. It’s nice to swim for your food.”

Due to the long distance, Djatiasmoro and CIBBOWS only let four swimmers participate in the 10-mile Key Lime Pie swim each year. Participants are trailed by boats from the Coast Guard and are provided food and water…