Bellingham Masters Swim Club (BMSC) was founded in 1982 at the Bellingham YMCA. The Club started because it was the only way to organize a group of diverse swimmers to swim laps in a 20 yard pool only 24 feet wide with no lane lines, while divers were jumping off the diving board.

By 1984 members were competing at National Championships. The club was allocated two lanes during the morning Y lap swim to train and attendance averaged around 9 swimmers. In those years, the club had a variety of names, the most whimsical of which was Whamsters (Whatcom Master’s Swimming).

The Club competed at PNA Championships often receiving trophies in the small team division. By 1993 members of the Club were involved in political campaigns to build a community pool, and after 2 successive 56% yes votes, those members helped develop a non-profit organization (Let’s Pool Together), which successfully raised $1.5 million dollars to help build the Arne Hanna Aquatic Center. Members of the club were involved with the layout and the planning of the facility as well.

Since 1995 BMSC has worked out at The Aquatic Center. Barb Gundred served as our volunteer team coach from 1995-2005. During that time the team grew to an average attendance of about 17 swimmers per workout, and evening workouts were successfully added.

Team surveys reveal an enthusiasm for aerobic fitness training, the fellowship of the group, the enjoyment of team pot-lucks and, "it would be nice, but the system works well as is", to having an on deck paid coach. BMSC has sponsored PNA and Zone Championships, sponsored successful and occasionally hysterically funny pool swim meets, and for the past 6 years concentrated on hosting the highly successful Lake Padden Open Water Swim.