Montauk - This challenge didn't take place in the comfort of a swimming pool or a bay but rather the untamed Atlantic Ocean, which beat its chest with wave after monstrous wave crashing into shore along Montauk. The first annual Open Water Swim Challenge in Montauk was indeed a challenge, but under near ideal conditions, was a pleasure for the 57 swimmers who took the ocean on.

New York City's Rod McClave powered through the ocean waters and finished first in the inaugural Open Water Swim Challenge in Montauk, posting a time of 38 minutes, 34 seconds.

Rod McClave set the pace early and never let up as he cruised to victory in the two-mile race, hitting the finish line at 38 minutes, 34 seconds but not after a trek east along the southern shore from Kirk Beach to Ditch Plains. McClave, 35, is a former college swimmer at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania and is currently a swimming and triathlon coach at The Sports Center at Chelsea Piers. McClave himself specializes in the Olympic distance triathlon - 1500 meter swim, 40 mile bike and 10 kilometer run, just recently competing in the Philadelphia triathlon last month. The New Orleans native moved to Manhattan after Hurricane Katrina and enjoyed taking a break from the city to test the water out east.

"It was really a pleasure to be out here," McClave said. "I met really nice people, and one of the fun things about an open swim is you never know what conditions are going to be like. It's always a little bit different."

Part of the proceeds for the event went toward funding the construction of an aquatic center, which would include a swimming pool, at the Montauk Playhouse Community Center - just under $2,000 was raised. The playhouse also features a non-profit child care center, adult day care center, a community senior nutrition center as well as a second floor gymnasium and two local businesses, Body Tech Fitness Center and Manual and Sports Physical Therapy. The town's junior lifeguard program also benefitted from the open water swim.

David Powers finished second in a time of 40:12, trotting onto the beach slightly ahead of third place Matt O'Grady, who clocked a 40:20 in the two-mile race. Altogether, 57 swimmers took the water on a glorious Saturday morning, including 31 at the two-mile mark at Kirk Beach. They quickly made their way west on the tail of the one-milers, who began at Nick's Beach, and the half-milers, who set off from just west of Ditch Plains.

Swimmers prepare for their trek eastward and are thrilled to have a day of sunshine.

Sinead FitzGibbon, co-owner of Manual and Sports Physical Therapy, was the first woman out of the water after two miles. FitzGibbon posted a time of 47:34 to take fifth overall and win her division by just shy of two minutes. FitzGibbon called the conditions "beautiful" and expressed her gratitude for such an event being available.

Sinead FitzGibbon swam the two-mile course in 47 minutes, 34 seconds to win the women's division.

"It was a nice time to reflect on where we live, coming along from one beach to the next and because of the fundraiser through the Playhouse," FitzGibbon said. "I would love to have a swimming pool in Montauk so the kids can grow up swimming like I did. It's a huge part of my life and a formative part of who I am as a person. We're really privileged to have these great conditions here and such a beautiful place to live in. Every day is a blessing."

Julie Ocampo took second in the women's division, posting a 49:22, while Molly McDonald swam a 50:57 to finish third.

Chandler Grinnell took first in the mile swim with a time of 24:46, just outdoing Justin Davda, who was a minute-and-a-half behind. Bill O'Donnell finished third In 31:46. For the women, October Dow completed the one-mile trek in 30:22 to beat out Kathy McGeehan (37:11) and Jodi Richard (43:36).

The half-mile was won by Amanda Husslein, who beat the boys by more than a minute by swimming it in 15 minutes, 14 seconds. Holly Goldstein was second in the female group and Sophia Taylor was third (19:21). Brendan McCormick took home top honors among the boys by posting a 16:21. Griffin Taylor (19:20) and Lars Merseburg (19:23). Griffin Taylor, Sophia Taylor and Javin Bose finished 1-2-3 in the youth division.

The East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue squad has been in operation for seven years, replacing the dory squads. It provides the town with a second wave of help should a situation arise. Altogether, the squad consists of 45 active and retired lifeguards, and approximately 250 junior lifeguards are in training.

"We have trained people who assist the fire department, police department and the dive team so if something is happening in the water that requires immediate attention, they call 9-1-1, we're dispatched through the police department and we respond," said Jim Arnold, longtime member and head of the Open Water Swim Committee. As for the swim itself, Arnold said, "It's completely different than bay swimming. There's much more current, more marine life, and more issues in respect to feeling a little bit more exposed and perhaps not having the experience. Bay swimming is closely related to being in a pool. Ocean swimming always presents challenges and it makes it that much more exciting."

John Ryan Sr., Jim Arnold and Scott Summerville of the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue Squad celebrate a job well done at the first annual open water swim challenge in Montauk.

The second leg of the Open Water Swim Challenge will take place for the second straight year at Fresh Pond in Amagansett on Aug. 15. According to Arnold, a longtime rescue squad member and head of the Open Water Swim Committee, a second ocean race is planned for 2010 closer to East Hampton Village.