CATALINA CHANNEL SWIMMING FEDERATION
OFFICIAL SWIM RULES
1. GENERAL RULES
• All Catalina Channel swims prior to 1981 have been accepted as official.
• In any Catalina Channel swim attempt, no swimmer shall use or be assisted by artificial aids of any kind. Swimmers are permitted to grease the body before a swim, use goggles, wear one cap, wear one porous suit, neither of which may be designed either to retain body heat or aid in buoyancy. No wetsuits are permitted.
• During a swim, no supporting contact whatsoever with the swimmer shall be permitted by any person or object.
• For a swim to be officially recognized, a swimmer must cross the channel from the natural connecting shore, touch the opposite natural connecting shore and clear the water.
• For double crossings to be officially recognized, a swimmer must cross the channel from the natural connecting shore, touch the opposite natural connecting shore, clear the water, return to the water directly, touch the originating natural connecting shore, and clear the water.
• The timing of the swim shall start from the moment the swimmer enters the water until he/she touches the opposite natural connecting shore, and clears the water. The observer is in charge of timing the swim.
• The navigator of the support boat must be a member of the Federation and have a Coast Guard license (on file with the Federation) for the swim to be official. The type of license depends on the boat size and whether or not the boat is for hire. (See navigator packet for detail.)
• Every application for recognition of a swim must be accompanied by the official observer's log (which includes the official time, any incidents, times, tides, methods of feeding, and other pertinent details), completed forms and fees. Additional evidence may be requested by the committee at their discretion.
• The official observer shall be in sole charge of the timing of the swim, and shall be responsible for the interpretation of the rules, including the right to cancel the swim in adverse conditions and/or danger to the swimmer.
• The Federation shall not observe attempts to swim the channel by persons under the age of twelve.
• Each solo swimmer must provide details of his/her swimming experience and a detailed complete medical report issued by a licensed medical doctor within 21 days of the swimmer's attempt. This excludes chiropractors.
• Paddlers and/or pacers are legal as long as they are not used as physical support by the swimmer.
• A swimmer or representative must give the Secretary of the Federation no fewer than 21 days notice of the proposed departure of the pilot boat.
• No alcoholic beverages shall be consumed by any swimmer, observer, boat crewmember, or anyone associated with the swim from dock to dock.
• Each swimmer is required to pay to the Federation an administrative fee of $100.00, no less than 21 days prior to the start of the swim, for every attempt. He/she must also be a member of the Federation. The fee reimburses expenses for: observer, USS Sanction, mail, calls, medals, paperwork, and other administrative expenses.
• Each swimmer must be a current member of USA Swimming and provide proof in the form of a copy of the card 21 days before a swim.
• Any variation from the above stated rules without prior approval of the Executive Secretary/Treasurer will negate the crossing.
• A swimmer must not take any drugs that are on the U. S. Olympic Committee's list
of prohibited medications. This list is available from the Olympic Drug Reference Line at
• If any situation arises which is not covered by the rules, USA Open Water rules will be in effect. The executive secretary/treasurer is in charge of interpretations of the rules prior to a swim. The observer is in charge of interpretations of the rules during a swim.
2. RELAYS
• A relay team must meet all single and double GENERAL RULES that apply.
• Each team shall consist of six swimmers.
• Each swimmer shall swim for one hour each time he/she enters the water. This time is called "a leg".
• On receipt of a time signal, the changeover to the new swimmer will be made as soon as is practically possible (should be within one minute) after the previous swimmer has completed his/her respective leg, but under no circumstances more than five minutes after the end of the previous swimmer's leg. In a takeover, the new swimmer must enter the water behind the preceding swimmer, and swim past him/her. The new swimmer must touch the preceding swimmer.
• Team members must rotate in the same order throughout the swim.
• Each relay is required to pay the sanction fee of $150.00.
• Substitution of a swimmer can only occur before a team member enters the water for his/her first leg of the swim. The substitute must have been approved prior to the relay start as an alternate. He/she must be a CCSF and USS member.
