A group of approximately 200 swimmers, supported by kayaker aides, proved Saturday morning that the Casco Bay Ferry isn’t the only way to get between Peaks Island and Portland.

They participated in Peaks to Portland, a YMCA fundraising event that challenges seasoned and recreational swimmers alike to take the plunge into Casco Bay and traverse the 2.4-mile stretch of open water between Peaks and Portland’s East End Beach. A tradition going back to the 1920s, this year’s event marks the first in-person swim since the COVID-19 pandemic forced fundraising efforts online in 2020.

As of Saturday morning, swimmers had collected approximately $113,000 in donations, surpassing their goal of $100,000. Supporters welcomed the swimmers back to Portland starting at around 9:15 a.m. The fastest two participants – Brim Peabody, of Scarborough, and Cookie Mahoney, of Cape Elizabeth – arrived at the beach in just over 47 minutes.

Peabody, the men’s winner and first overall finisher with a time of 47 minutes, 18 seconds, also won the 2019 race. Mahoney, the women’s winner, was just 4 seconds behind at 47 minutes, 22 seconds.

Father-son duo Dean and Ian Leslie, of Portland, had raised almost $8,000 combined by the time they dried off after their swim.

“I think fundraisers and swimmers should both be very proud of everything that they’ve done,” Ian Leslie said.

Since the YMCA does not turn families away because of their financial situations, the race is an essential fundraiser for an organization that provides summer camps, swim lessons, preschool and more to kids all over southern Maine.

“Donations go directly towards the Y’s vital programs that promote healthy growth and development for all children,” Helen Breña, YMCA of Southern Maine president and CEO, said in a statement. “They ensure every kid has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.”

Francisco Guzman, of Falmouth, who took part in the swim for the seventh time this year, said he keeps coming back to ensure that other families have access to the same programs as his.

“When people ask me, the reason I’ve done this is because my kids have done camps at the Y for many years, and they love them,” Guzman said. “And fortunately, we’re lucky enough to be able to afford them, but it’s a really good place for kids to hang out in the summer, especially because we both are working parents.”

Guzman and kayaker John Goodrich have teamed up for the race since 2018. The duo even completed the race four times on their own and fundraised online over the past four years, when the Y didn’t hold an official in-person event. They were just shy of their goal of $7,500 after completing the swim from Peaks on Saturday and were hoping to bring in even more donations before the end of the week.

“It was incredible,” Guzman said when he arrived at the beach finish. “It was a little cold at the beginning, but we expected it.”