For those who are familiar with the long-standing tradition of the the Freedom Swim, they know that the “Freedom” has very little to do with it being held on the 4th of July. The “Freedom” comes from the tradition of making the swim between Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte sans-swimwear.

“Going unencumbered is definitely part of the tradition,” explains Mike Haymans, one of the event’s contemporary torch(bum)-bearers,"but you don’t have to.”

The Freedom Swim tradition dates back roughly to the 1920’s when young teens, such as Irving and Edwin Roundtree (who later owned the Coca-Cola bottling plant in Punta Gorda) made the swim across Charlotte Harbor in the buff as a sort of rite of passage into manhood.

On July 4th. 1991, Haymans, Frank Desguin and Sandy MacGibon made the swim along with 10 others from the Seahorse Marina in Port Charlotte to the Howard Johnson in Punta Gorda. Every year since, it has become a tradition to meet at high tide on Independence Day and dive into the brackish-brown water while the nearby sailboats hoist the discarded swimsuits up their masts like floral-print pirate flags (insert your own booty joke here)

Last year the event drew over 250 participants ranging in skill level from strong swimmers to those who might be strong swimmers if they weren’t towing their own beer cooler with them.

“It isn’t a race” says Mike Haymans, “people can go at their own pace and if they can’t make it all the way, there is always dozens of boats to pluck you out.”

For those who do complete the 1.6 mile swim without aid of a boat another tradition awaits: the “Tarpon Roll”

Think of it as a victory lap along the dock…
with no pants.

For those wishing to participate in this year’s event, the departure point will be at the north (Port Charlotte) side of the US41/Gilchrest Bridge at 8:30 and will conclude at Fisherman’s Village in Punta Gorda.

Check out pictures directly from the water.

Note: I was fully trunked for this adventure...not so much out of journalistic integrity but because I have pulled enough blacktip sharks from these waters to avoid exposing anything that could be misconstrued as bait.