Three siblings with a love for the ocean will swim around Harrington Sound this weekend to honour their father, who helped to create an open-water event more than 30 years ago.

Heidi and Chelsea Trott will take part in their first Round the Sound 10km swim on Sunday, while their brother, Sam, hopes to complete his third one.

Despite this being the sisters’ first 10K, they have completed shorter distances during previous Round the Sound swims, which their father, Reeve Trott, helped to establish in 1991.

Chelsea recalled: “[Our dad] always loved swimming and he wanted to get people excited about swimming in open water because Bermuda is one of the best places to do it.

“I don’t think there was much open-water swimming in Bermuda before that.”

The Round the Sound Swim has raised more than $500,000 for local charities since its formation.

Reeve and his wife, Sheena, took part in at least 20 Round the Sound events until Reeve, who now has dementia, experienced back problems and Sheena began having ear issues.

The siblings remember helping their parents and other volunteers prepare for the event — and their golden retriever Breech Block joining swimmers on practice swims — when they were children.

Chelsea said: “For Dad, it was always about getting people excited about swimming and also raising money for charities on the island.”

The siblings wanted to take part in the 10K together this year to honour their father and launched the Team Trott online fundraiser last month to raise money for the Bermuda Zoological Society, which has received funds from Round the Sound events since 2015.

They initially hoped to raise $10,000 but have already been pledged more than $40,000.

Chelsea said: “We’re so floored by how much we’ve raised so far from friends and work colleagues but also people who have known us throughout our dad’s life that we don’t see any more.”

Chelsea and Heidi began training for the 10K at the National Sports Centre pool in June and eventually moved into open water.

Sam lives in London but flew to Bermuda for the 10K and practised in Harrington Sound with his sisters last week.

He advised his siblings and everyone else competing in their first 10K swim to have fun.

Sam said: “You’re just trying to finish a 10K, you’re not trying to compete in the 10K, so pace yourself, take it slow and enjoy the atmosphere of the day — there are so many people out supporting on kayaks or giving out water and the atmosphere is just amazing.”

Sheena even participated in the Round the Sound while pregnant with Sam and they swam the 800m together when he was 5.

She said: “I am incredibly proud of my children, their father has fostered in them a wonderful love for the ocean.

“They are great swimmers and divers, they have all been government lifeguards, something Reeve also volunteered for shortly after the service was formed.”

Nick Strong and Mike Cash have organised the Round the Sound Swim since 2015.

Mr Strong said 420 participants, including 170 from overseas, had registered for the event this year as of Tuesday and he expected almost 500 to be signed up by Sunday.

He said: “We’ve had many people from overseas come in many times over the years and come back, because of the interactions and friendships they’ve made with local swimmers.”

The event this year has already raised almost $50,000 for BZS. Online donations will be accepted until October 20.

Swimmers can also take part in 6km, 4km, 2km or 800m swims, all of which will start at different points along Harrington Sound and finish at the Bermuda Aquarium, Museum and Zoo, where a prize-giving and social reception will take place.

• Registration for the Round the Sound swim closes at 11.59pm today viarunsignup.com. Visitbows.bm/round-the-soundor contact mike@bows.bm for more information