Catalina Channel
The Catalina Channel (technically San Pedro Channel) separates Santa Catalina Island from the Southern California mainland. The minimum distance across the channel is 19.6 statute miles (31.6 km), between Arrow Point on the island and Long Point, Rancho Palos Verdes. Swimmers typically start from the beach at Doctor's Cove for a slightly longer swim of 20 miles.
The Catalina Channel is one of the most historically significant and consistently popular marathon swims in the world, and is part of both the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and the Oceans Seven. George Young completed the first swim across the channel in January 1927, as the only finisher of the Wrigley Ocean Marathon.
Solo and relay swims are sanctioned by the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation (founded 1981). For the most authoritative data, please see CCSF's Swim Successes page.
Catalina Channel Records
Overall
First
- First overall: George Young (C-M in 1927)
- First two-way: Greta Andersen (C-M-C in 1958)
Fastest
- Fastest one-way: Penny Lee Dean (7:15 M-C in 1976)
- Fastest two-way: John York (16:42 M-C-M in 1978)
Most Crossings
- Hank Wise and Jesus Samuel Neri Gutierrez (7)
Age
- Oldest: Anthony "Pat" Marzulli (69 years, 10 months, 8 days in 2018)
- Youngest: Andy Taylor (12 years in in 1971)
Directional and Gender-specific
- First woman: Myrtle Huddleston (C-M in 1927)
- First two-way (male): Daniel Slosberg (M-C-M in 1978)
- First Mainland-to-Catalina: Jose Cortinas (1953)
- Fastest man: Hank Wise (7:55 C-M in 2018)
- Fastest two-way (female): Penny Lee Dean (20:03 C-M-C in 1977)
- Fastest Catalina-to-Mainland: Grace van der Byl (7:27 in 2012)
- Oldest female: Carol Schumacher Hayden (66 years, 1 month, 28 days in 2016)
- Youngest female: Maya Merhige (14 years in 2021)
- Most crossings (female): Tina Neill (6)
Catalina Channel Swims
Reviews
Reviewer: Polly Madding (August 2023)
Swam in 2023 (Finished)
Overall Experience: ★️★️★️★️★️
Pilot: Bottom Scratcher
Fees: $3,500
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️★️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️✩️
Comments: "Communication with Carla from Bottom Scratcher both before and after my swim has been excellent! Everyone on board the boat was so helpful.
At the time of my swim, Bottom Scratcher charged $200/hr after nine hours with no mention of charges for increments of an hour. I came in a hair under 12 hours but was charged for 12 hours whereas a friend who was also on Bottom Scratcher a few days before me came in a bit over 11 hours and was only charged for 11 hours. I suggested to Carla that the contract be amended to reflect when swimmers will actually be charged for the next hour to avoid any surprises."
Association: Catalina Channel Swimming Federation
Fees: $800
Communication ★️★️★️★️✩️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️★️★️
Value: ★️★️★️★️✩️
Reviewer: Joelle Beard (August 2023)
Swam in 2015 (Finished)
Overall Experience: ★️★️★️★️★️
Pilot: Bottom Scratcher
Fees: $3,500
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️★️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "The piloting and observation crew were both fantastic."
Association: Catalina Channel Swimming Federation
Fees: NA
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️★️★️
Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Reviewer: Jessica Kieras (August 2023)
Swam in 2019 (Finished)
Overall Experience: ★️★️★️★️★️
Pilot: Kevin Bell
Fees: 3,250 USD
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️★️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "Was kind, flexible and very supportive."
Association: Catalina Channel Swimming Federation
Fees: 525 USD
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️★️★️
Value: ★️★️★️★️★️