CCSF News – August 2012
Exciting Swims in Catalina Under Pleasant Conditions
Annual Awards Banquet is Saturday November 3rd
Formal Invitation to Brunch at Doubletree will be Delivered in a Few Weeks
At the end of each season, the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation honors the swimmers (who will receive their medallion and certificate), and recognizes the vast number of volunteers, who are the foundation that makes any season a swimming success.
This year’s banquet brunch will be at the San Pedro Doubletree (same location as last year). Invitations — with every detail — will be sent later including an RSVP request to indicate the size of your party. All are welcome to attend: Swimmers, family & friends, supporters, and open water swimmers with an eye toward a future channel crossing.
We look forward to seeing you the first weekend in November.
Voting Members Help Shape The Federation’s Future
Applications for CCSF Voting Membership are Now Being Collected
The CCSF operates with a volunteer Board of Directors that oversees the non-profit organization. Voting members are a trusted group of open water swimming enthusiasts that have the ability to shape the CCSF’s future. Annually, this small group votes on the Board of Directors.
The CCSF has an application process for Voting Membership. Each year, a limited number of applicants may be invited to become a Voting Member– which is essentially a lifetime appointment.
Please reach out to John York if you have an interest in being more deeply involved in Catalina Channel swimming by becoming a CCSF Voting Member.
Announcing Successful CCSF Swims in Recent Weeks
Several Relays and Solo Swimmers Accomplish Remarkable Crossings
At the November 3rd Awards Banquet we hope to see the following swimmers, who made recently a successful and safe journey across the Catalina Channel:
“W.O.W” relay of 6 women all over the age of 70. It is widely believed that “WOW” is an understatement. This is the first time a relay has made the crossing where every individual is over 70 years old. If you look at the record of successful relay swims, you’ll see the “W.O.W” relay swam 10 years ago (when they were 60) and nearly 20 years ago, too.
Side-by-side swimming tandem with “W.O.W” was the all-men’s relay called “Swell Guys“. They chose a path, starting on the sandy shores of Cabrillo Beach and reaching Moonstone Beach near Long Point on Catalina Island. The final time was around 16 hours. Pictured: Relay swimmers and support crew on the San Pedro docks following a successful day.
Late in July, the relay “Rocking Hot Chicks and One Dude” got across in about 12 hours. The token dude was John York, who is the CCSF Vice-President. It’s great to see John back in the Channel and thoroughly enjoying himself.
“Commotion on the Ocean” made the Channel in around 14 hours. The team was led by Julian Rusinek, and featured two Great Britain swimmers who we may see again in Southern California for a solo effort.
More recently, the “CO & CA Kelp Patties” flew across the Channel in 10-plus hours. The team name says it all: Swimmers from Colorado joined California swimmers to enjoy a terrific swim in pleasant conditions.
Most of the swimmers in recent weeks have taken advantage of the conditions, where water temperatures are just about as high as they ever get in the Catalina Channel.
Just this morning, August 21st, Dan Boyle of New York crossed the Catalina Channel in less than 11 hours. Dan is a Board member of CIBBOWS, the Coney Island-Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers community.
In early August, Dave van Mouwerik used his experience from an Anacapa crossing and the length of Lake Tahoe to make a solid effort in Catalina. He hit the mainland about 12 hours after leaving Catalina Island. At the shore, there was a family reunion of sorts: Dave’s wife Lisa and his parents were there to greet him. Plus, his oldest son swam the final quarter mile into shore with Dave (pictured below). Congratulations. We’ll celebrate your success with you at the Catalina Channel banquet.
San Francisco marathon swimmer Sue Free (11 hours) had an exception crossing with a superior support team, including members of CIBBOWS. Her challenge was just not the 20-miles of open water swimming, but also a layer of thick fog that descended upon the crew.
Hendrik Meerman completed his “Triple Crown”. It started 6 years ago when he swam the English Channel, then just last year he complete the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim. We’re thrilled to see his success in the Catalina Channel, with a final time in the 12-hour range.
Just yesterday, local swimmer Adam Moine had — in the words of his experienced official observer — an “exception crossing” where he rushed up the rocky shore at Terranea Cover. Adam’s final time was almost kissing the sub 9-hour mark. He was escorted by a crew of ocean lifeguards. His efforts were part of a fundraiser for the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation. What’s next for Adam? First, it’s back to college next week, and then on November 3rd the Catalina Channel Annual Awards Banquet at the San Pedro Doubletree.
William Wrigley Jr Exhibit at the Catalina Island Museum
Special Exhibit Opens Next Week to Celebrate Wrigley’s Impact on Catalina
The first Catalina Channel crossing happened during the Wrigley Ocean Marathon Swim, which was named for the man who developed the event — and offered the $25,000 prize package for the winner — in hopes of bring more tourism to Catalina Island. For the next several months, the Catalina Island Museum celebrates the life & times of the man who nurtured Catalina into a vacation destination.
His 1927 Ocean Marathon race certainly made a splash: For weeks, journalists crowded the island to interview the swimmers, determine the favorites in the race (which took place in mid-January), and exploit the headline makers including one female swimmer who shockingly announced she would skinny dip her way across the Catalina Channel.
George Young won the race and was the sole finisher. Though in the following weeks, a handful of Wrigley contestants returned to the water to accomplish a crossing. Wrigley encouraged and enabled the first Catalina crossing.
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