A photo of fleet 50 from 1948

[Bob Astrove]

Working on an ILCA project and came across this photo of our fleet members from 1948.  It references a five mile sail to "Swift Island" on the Potomac.

I've googled that and can't identify where Swift Island is or was?  Anyone have an idea?

Bobby Astrove

[Nabeel Alsalam]

See this Wikipedia article that lists the islands of the Potomac River.   There are quite a few.  I thought one might have been renamed after 1948.   E.g. Theodore Roosevelt Island was Mason Island before 1931.   I did not find a good candidate.  

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[Pam Maple]

From Chat GPT (unverified)

Swift Island on the Potomac River is a small, lesser-known island located in the Potomac River, which runs through Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. Here's what you should know:

Location & Geography

Swift Island is part of a chain of small islands in the Potomac, many of which are clustered around the Washington, D.C. area.

It's likely near or within the George Washington Memorial Parkway area or Potomac Gorge, both known for hosting small, uninhabited islands.

The island may be partially or seasonally submerged depending on water levels.

 Ecology & Access

These islands often serve as bird sanctuaries or riparian habitats—especially important for migratory birds, amphibians, and native plant life.

Some islands in the Potomac (like Theodore Roosevelt Island) are public parkland, but many, including potentially Swift Island, are not accessible to the public due to preservation efforts or safety concerns.

Canoeing and kayaking tours of the Potomac may go near or around such islands, offering a way to view them up close.

 Historical or Cultural Notes

There is no major known historical site or event specifically linked to Swift Island, making it one of the more obscure landforms in the river.

It may be named after an early local landowner, a natural feature, or simply descriptive (as in "swift current").

Pam Maple

(202)236-7958

On Aug 1, 2025, at 6:46 AM, Nabeel Alsalam <nabeel....@gmail.com> wrote:

See this Wikipedia article that lists the islands of the Potomac River.   There are quite a few.  I thought one might have been renamed after 1948.   E.g. Theodore Roosevelt Island was Mason Island before 1931.   I did not find a good candidate.  

On Thu, Jul 31, 2025 at 6:18 PM Bob Astrove <bob.a...@gmail.com> wrote:

Working on an ILCA project and came across this photo of our fleet members from 1948.  It references a five mile sail to "Swift Island" on the Potomac.

I've googled that and can't identify where Swift Island is or was?  Anyone have an idea?

Bobby Astrove

<fleet_50_from_1948.jpg>

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[Raeyane]

I found this on aquamaps.   It’s not 5 miles but it’s the closest I found. Nothing on navionics.   

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