Catalina Channel

I swam the Catalina Channel swim in 2005. My boat was Bottom Scrapers. The captain was my ideal of a sea salt. He plays the bagpipes and runs a good swim. He has he most successful number of swims. Next, ask question of your observer and kayak team. Here are some of my experiences - If you are going from Catalina Island to the California coast you will likely start at midnight. This is fine since you are swimming towards the sunlight. In August, when I made the swim I had about 6 hours of darkness and was filled with joy when the sun came up. I was about halfway at this point. But the feeling of just making it until sunrise was great Swimming over kelp beds is interesting at best, especially if something nibbles on one's feet. The first time this happened I turned around quickly and made ready to hit the shark that I knew was trying to taste me. No shark so I swam on. It happened again and I reacted the same way. I asked my kayaker what was doing this and he said it was likely a cleaning fish. My mind at ease I swam on and on. It happened a few other times but I did not react. Last, 3 miles or so from the California Coast the water turns much colder. In my case, it went from 68 degrees to 65 degrees, so the temp drop was very noticed. Another thing that happened to me that had not occurred before was that I vomited at the 3 hour mark. I had a number of 10 Km swims and an 9 mile swim before Catalina, so I am unsure what happened to me. This also occurred during my English Channel attempt in 2006. I quit after 14 hours in the water less then 3100 meters from France. Maybe nerves or saltwater and food, I am not sure. But I hear that is happens often to us Marathon Swimmers. Good Luck! Animal

I swam the Catalina Channel swim in 2005. My boat was Bottom Scrapers. The captain was my ideal of a sea salt. He plays the bagpipes and runs a good swim. He has he most successful number of swims. Next, ask question of your observer and kayak team. Here are some of my experiences - If you are going from Catalina Island to the California coast you will likely start at midnight. This is fine since you are swimming towards the sunlight. In August, when I made the swim I had about 6 hours of darkness and was filled with joy when the sun came up. I was about halfway at this point. But the feeling of just making it until sunrise was great Swimming over kelp beds is interesting at best, especially if something nibbles on one's feet. The first time this happened I turned around quickly and made ready to hit the shark that I knew was trying to taste me. No shark so I swam on. It happened again and I reacted the same way. I asked my kayaker what was doing this and he said it was likely a cleaning fish. My mind at ease I swam on and on. It happened a few other times but I did not react. Last, 3 miles or so from the California Coast the water turns much colder. In my case, it went from 68 degrees to 65 degrees, so the temp drop was very noticed. Another thing that happened to me that had not occurred before was that I vomited at the 3 hour mark. I had a number of 10 Km swims and an 9 mile swim before Catalina, so I am unsure what happened to me. This also occurred during my English Channel attempt in 2006. I quit after 14 hours in the water less then 3100 meters from France. Maybe nerves or saltwater and food, I am not sure. But I hear that is happens often to us Marathon Swimmers. Good Luck! Animal