Sunday morning, more than 100 swimmers left the River Dock on the Esplanade, under the watchful eye of the Arthur Fiedler bust, for a mile-long race in the Charles River. Swimming in the Charles: it's a phrase that would make most Bostonians cringe. But, for the Charles River Swimming Club, who hosted Sunday's race, it's a matter of pride.

The Charles, a victim of more than a century of raw sewage and industrial waste, is now clean enough to host a swimming event once a year. (It's still a $50 fine to swim in the Charles except during a permitted event, and, even then, it's against the law to dive into the river for fear of stirring up toxic sediment.) Last year's swim was canceled, on account of a dangerous algal bloom, and there was some fear that heavy rain before the race would create the same hazard.

Luckily for the swimmers, the rain didn't start until after they were already in the water.

Bostonist braved the elements to take a few pictures of the proceedings.

The heavy rains on Sunday morning left onlookers as drenched as the participants were. (C. Fernsebner)

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