Blair Cannon
Blair Cannon is an American pool and open water swimmer and a San Diego-based philanthropist and vice president of Bernstein Global Wealth Management. He is the 7th fastest Catalina Channel swimmer of all time with an 8 hour 18 minutecrossing in 2011.
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Swimming Career
Canoon is a life-long swimmer who raised money during his Catalina Channel crossing on behalf of the Monarch School and the Great Friends Foundation.
His 20-mile crossing was labeled as the Cannon Catalina Challenge and raised US$10,000 per mile to benefit the annual fund of Monarch School, the San Diego-based school for children impacted by homelessness, and the Great Friends Foundation Scholarship Program for children of the military in San Diego.
"Blair is truly dedicated to this swim and his determination is a testament that, just like him, the children of Monarch School and the Great Friends Foundation can do anything if they work hard enough,” said his coach Anne Cleveland.
"The children at Monarch and those supported by the Great Friends Foundation face so many challenges,” explained Blair. "I wanted to do this because I know these kids have felt cold or hungry or scared before, yet they are going to school and working to improve their lives. They inspire me, and this is a chance for me to do the same for them. I want them to see that any goal is possible if you work hard enough."
California Coastal Swim
Cannon participated in the California Coastal Swim or the Nighttrain228, the Night Train Swimmers's world record setting non-stop ocean relay swim. The Night Train Swimmers completed a 228-mile (367 km) swim down the California coast from Gaviota State Park to the San Diego Yacht Club between 22-26 August 2013. Under the direction of captain Vito Bialla with crew Hal McCormick and Patrick Horn, Phil Cutti, David Holscher, Zach Jirkovsky, Luane Rowe, Blair Cannon, and Grace van der Byl, with Walter Bean Scott as the alternate swimmer, will rotate in one-hour swim legs.
Catalina Channel Crossing
Fastest Catalina Channel Crossings in History
1. 7 hours 15 minutes 55 seconds by Penny Lee Dean, USA, MC in September 1976
2. 7 hours 27 minutes 25 seconds by Grace van der Byl, USA, CM in October 2012
3. 7 hours 37 minutes 31 seconds by Pete Huisveld, USA, MC in August 1992
4. 7 hours 41 minutes 14 seconds by John York, USA, MC in September 1978 (first leg of a 2-way)
5. 7 hours 43 minutes 6 seconds by Karen Burton, USA, CM in October 1994
6. 7 hours 55 minutes 6 seconds by Hank Wise, USA, CM in October 2018
7. 7 hours 57 minutes 40 seconds by Andreas Waschburger, Germany, CM in August 2024
8. 8 hours 4 minutes 12 seconds by Ceinwen Elizabeth Roberts, Australia, CM in September 2014
9. 8 hours 5 minutes 44 seconds by Todd Robinson, USA, CM in August 2009
10. 8 hours 7 minutes 3 seconds by Hank Wise, USA, CM in October 2010
11. 8 hours 7 minutes 37 seconds by Hank Wise, USA, MC in October 2015
12. 8 hours 7 minutes 53 seconds by Hank Wise, USA, MC in September 2025
13. 8 hours 9 minutes 0 seconds by Susan McKay, Canada, CM in September 2022
14. 8 hours 11 minutes 14 seconds by Miquel Suñer Comalat, Spain, CM in July 2012
15. 8 hours 14 minutes 46 seconds by Chad Hundeby, USA, CM in September 1993
16. 8 hours 18 minutes 26 seconds by Blair Cannon, USA, CM in August 2011
17. 8 hours 19 minutes 40 seconds by Danielle Rose Wahl, USA, CM in June 2014
18. 8 hours 20 minutes 19 seconds by Hank Wise, USA, CM in November 2016
10. 8 hours 20 minutes 48 seconds by Gemma Jensen, Australia, CM in August 2006
20. 8 hours 26 minutes 24 seconds by Jim McConica, USA, CM in September 1983
21. 8 hours 28 minutes 21 seconds by Rendy Lynn Opdycke, USA, CM in August 2008
22. 8 hours 21 minutes 20 seconds by John York, USA, MC in October 1977
23. 8 hours 32 minutes 49 seconds by John York, USA, CM in October 2000
24. 8 hours 33 minutes 59 seconds by Penny Lee Dean, USA (first leg of two-way crossing) in September 1977
25. 8 hours 34 minutes 18 seconds by Andrea Karge, USA, CM in September 2001
26. 8 hours 35 minutes 44 seconds by Anna Ray DeLozier, USA, CM in 2006
26. 8 hours 35 minutes 44 seconds by Derrick Wong, USA, CM in September 2011
28. 8 hours 36 minutes 32 minutes by Mallory Mead, USA, CM in August 2010
29. 8 hours 38 minutes 19 seconds by Anshuman Jhingran, India, CM in August 2023
30. 8 hours 42 minutes 57 seconds by Heather Royer, USA, CM in October 1998
31. 8 hours 43 minutes 16 seconds by Mary Beth Colpo, USA, CM in August 1977
Nighttrain228
External links
- Catherine Is A Special Breed, Swimming Beyond The Black Line Down the Coast of California
- Grace van der Byl Inducted as an Honor Swimmer in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
- Blair Cannon on Twitter
- Blair Cannon LinkedIn bio
- Blair Cannon on television
- Q&A with Blair Cannon
- Blair Cannon Blasts A 8:18 For Kids
- Cannon Catalina Challenge
- Catalina Channel Swimming Federation
- Night Train Swimmers Announce World Record Relay Attempt
- Doing Good While Swimming With Sharks And Jellies
- Blue And White And Perhaps Red All Over
- The Night Train Going From Gaviota, Culminating In Coronado
- Marathon Swimming versus Marathon Running
- Swimming With Bait Balls
- Phil Cutti, Lead-off Man For Nighttrain228
- Prequel To Sequel
- Rough And Tough. No Guts, No Glory
- 8 And 2 Is 10-4, On The Pacific With Blair Cannon
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Night Train Swimmers Rocking Into Their Second Night
- Camaraderie On The High Seas
- Swimming With Seals, Afraid Of Apex
- Monday Monday, If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears
- When Man Is Mightier Than Machine
- Night Train Swimmers Do It In 100 Hours
- Great Job Daddy. Welcome Home
- Phil Cutti Finishes The Job After 100 Hours
- Luane Rowe Does Her Job Well, Quietly
- Zach Jirkovsky Is All Smiles After 100 Hours Of Swimming
- David Holscher Gets The Job Done Harmoniously
- Grace Van Der Byl Triumphantly Tired
- Night Train Swimmers Think Big
- Have A Ball With Cannon - Swim 24 Challenge
- Record-setting Relays Rock 'N Roll
