Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz Island is part of the Channel Islands off the coast of Southern California and is known as the Jewel of the Channel Islands. It is either 19 miles (30.5 km) from San Pedro Point to Silver Strand Beach in Oxnard or 23.5 miles (37.8 km) from Fry's Harbor to Leadbetter Point in Santa Barbara on the California coast.
Contents
Marathon Swims
- The Oxnard route was first conquered by David Yudovin in 1983 (15:15).
- The Oxnard course record is held by Jim McConica (8:59 in 2013).
- The Santa Barbara route was first conquered by Ashby Harper in 1984 (16:24).
- Lynn Kubasek, a nominee for the 2013 World Open Water Swimming Woman of the Year, became the first person to swim from Santa Cruz Island to Anacapa Island in a time of over 5 hours on 31 August 2013.
Sanctioning
The Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association (SBCSA) supports and sanctions open water swims to, from, and around seven of the eight Channel Islands.
Prison Islands Swims
Santa Cruz Island is site of one of the Triple Break swims (Triple Crown of Prison Island Swims), where swimmers challenge themselves to escape by swimming at least 3 of the world's most well-known prison island swims including Le Château d’If, Fort Boyard, Devil's Island, Île de Gorée, Robben Island, Alcatraz Island, Spike Island, Rottnest Island, and Sainte-Marguerite.
Julian Rusinek Scholarship
The Julian Rusinek Scholarship, funded by American open water swimmer Julian Rusinek, helps underwrite the costs of channel swim attempts by deserving American marathon swimmers across and between the San Miguel Island, Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Anacapa Island, San Nicolas Island, Santa Barbara Island, and San Clemente Island.
Successful Channel Swimmers
The following swimmers have successfully crossed from Santa Cruz Island to the California mainland:
1. 8/16/1983 David Yudovin (USA), Santa Cruz Island to California Mainland, 15:15:30
2. 8/18/1984 Ashby Harper (USA), Santa Cruz Island to California Mainland, 16:24:00
3. 9/7/2006 Paul Lewis (England), Cueva Valdez to Leadbetter Beach, 13:16:30
4. 10/4/2006 Ned Denison (Ireland), San Pedro Point to Hollywood Beach, 10:27:06
5. 7/7/2007 Rendy Lynn Opdycke (USA) Santa Cruz Island to East Beach, 10:51:00
6. 8/14/2007 Kathleen Wilson (USA) Santa Cruz Island to Oxnard, 11:43:00
7. 9/23/2007 Kevin Murphy (England) Santa Cruz Island to Leadbetter Beach, 17:31:00
8. 7/15/2011 Tina Neill (USA) San Pedro Point to Silver Stand Beach, 10:33:09
9. 9/15/2012 Evan Morrison (USA) San Pedro Point to Hollywood Beach, 9:47:39
10. 7/26/2013 Regina Matheu (Guatemala) San Pedro Point to Silver Stand Beach, 11:40:44
11. 9/20/2013 Jim McConica (USA) Santa Cruz Island to Oxnard, 8:59:58
Videos
2018 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year Nomination
Ken 'The Beast' Mignosa's Two-way Santa Cruz Island Crossing was nominated for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year award: Ken Mignosa, known as The Beast, is one very tough, very hardened channel swimmer. Near two-meter white-capped waves did not stop the 54-year-old during his 17 hour 18 minute Catalina Channel crossing and neither did an unprecedented two-way crossing between Santa Cruz Island and the California mainland with an extra swing around Anacapa Island. His 29 hour 22 minute channel swim was the second longest channel swim off the American West Coast in history and the first two-way Santa Cruz Island swim that painstakingly totalled 65.98 km. For successfully completing the second longest solo marathon swim in California Channel Islands history, for swimming so far with a heartfelt appreciation of his crew and a positive mindset and broad smile, and for quietly compiling an impressive list of channel swims in his 50’s, the Two-way Santa Cruz Island Crossing by Ken Mignosa of the USA is a worthy nominee for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year.
External links
- Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh No. Sharks, Jellyfish and Snakes, Oh Yes
- Dr. Caroline Block Honored by the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame
- Swim From The Island of the Blue Dolphins
- 2018 World Open Water Swimming Performance Of The Year Nominees
- Nominate Mind-boggling, Incredible Swims For The 2019 World Open Water Swimming Performance Of The Year
- Live Bait And Aged Chum In Open Water
- Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association
- Facebook page for DRIVEN
- Are You DRIVEN?
- Jim McConica Sets The Standard From Santa Cruz
- Lynn Kubasek Embodies The Spirit Of The Sport
- 2013 World Open Water Swimming Woman Of The Year Nominees
- Jim McConica, An Ageless Role Model, Mentor And Icon
- Jean McKensie Cruises To Carpinteria
- Generosity From Julian, Swimming In Santa Barbara
- A Big Swim Through A Marine Sanctuary
- Antecedent Attempts At Anacapa
- California Channel Island Swimming History 1926 to 1978
- Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association
- Triple Break - Global List Of Prison Island Swims
- Novaquatics Team Sets Santa Cruz Channel Record
- High Seas Adventures Of Dan Simonelli
- Simonelli Succeeds In Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association
- Swimmers Honored By Santa Barbara Channel Swimming
- A Big Swim Through A Marine Sanctuary
- Remembering The Big Swim In Santa Barbara
- Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association
- World Open Water Swimming Association
- Open Water Swimming
- Marathon Swimming
- Daily News of Open Water Swimming
- The Legacy Of Emilio Casanueva
- Marilyn Korzekwa Swims Thrice For Two Grand Successes
- Ken Mignosa Goes Long, Real Long In The Channel Islands
- Back And Forth In The Bay
