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
Fastest
Most Crossings
Age

Directional and Gender-specific



Catalina Channel Swims


Reviews

Reviewer: Ruth Gilgenbach (September 2023)
Swam in 2023 (Finished)
Overall Experience: ★️★️★️★️★️

Pilot: Bottom Scratcher
Fees: $3200 USD
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Piloting Skill: ★️★️★️★️★️
Cost/Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "My pilots suggested at the pre-swim briefing that we swap the direction of the swim to be mainland to Catalina instead of the more common C->M route. This was based on their readings/estimates of the currents, one day off of a full moon. This wound up being a superb call, with my swim coming in well under my estimated time. Swim was easy and beautiful.

My time was just under 11 hours (10:54) and I was charged for 11 hours (which I think is fair, just FYI)."

Association: Catalina Channel Swimming Federation
Fees: $800 USD (including membership fee)
Communication ★️★️★️★️★️
Advice & Support: ★️★️★️★️★️
Value: ★️★️★️★️★️
Comments: "CCSF had great communication, and helped me with a last-minute-ish scramble to find a second kayaker."

General Comments: "My lead kayaker was Jax Cole, and she was excellent."


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: ★️★️★️★️★️