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): [Stacy Frezonki](/p/stacy frezonki/) (14 years in 1971)
- Most crossings (female): Tina Neill (6)