Big Swims
The Dolphin
Club provides an ideal training ground for swimmers who wish
to challenge themselves by undertaking long-distance swims
in San Francisco Bay and elsewhere. Our members have distinguished
themselves in many marathon swim events, including:
 |
|
Laura
Burtch and John Selmer training with Pilot Don Harrison,
July '95 |
• Catalina
Channel (20 miles)
• Coronado Island (11.7 miles)
• Lake Tahoe (length) (21 miles)
• Manhattan Island (28.5 miles)
• Maui Channel (solo and relay, 11 miles)
• Sausalito to San Francisco (6 miles)
• Candlestick Point to Aquatic Park (10 miles)
• Oakland-San Francisco Bay Bridge span (5.5 miles)
• Bay Bridge to Golden Gate Bridge (5 miles)
• Huntington Beach to Seal Beach (8 miles)
• Strait of Gibraltar (13 miles)
• Capitola Pier to Santa Cruz Pier (6 miles)
The English Channel
 |
|
Duke
Dahlin conquers the Channel, July 2003 |
The ultimate
challenge for any marathon swimmer is the English Channel, the
chilly, current-swept 21 miles (as the crow flies) between England
and France.
Year |
Name |
Date |
Time (Hr:Min) |
Direction |
1953 |
Toufie Blaik |
Aug 3, 1953 |
16:05 |
F to E |
1985 |
Suzanne Heim |
Aug 18, 1985 |
10:11 |
F to E |
1986 |
Suzanne Heim |
July 30, 1986 |
10:02 |
E to F |
1986 |
Suzanne Heim |
Aug 10, 1986 |
10:24 |
E to F |
1988 |
Diana Abele |
Aug 5, 1988 |
11:20 |
E to F |
1990 |
John Davies |
July 31, 1990 |
10:01 |
E to F |
1994 |
Laura Burtch |
July 30, 1994 |
11:45 |
E to F |
1995 |
John Selmer |
Aug 10, 1995 |
10:58 |
E to F |
1996 |
Becky Fenson |
July 19, 1996 |
10:12 |
E to F |
1996 |
Steve Walker |
July 19, 1996 |
13:31 |
E to F |
1996 |
Peter Urrea |
Aug 8, 1996 |
14:38 |
E to F |
1999 |
Heather Royer |
Aug 6, 1999 |
10:43 |
E to F |
2000 |
Suzie Dods |
Aug 7, 2000 |
12:37 |
E to F |
2003 |
Phil Scarborough |
Aug 7, 2003 |
12:08 |
E to F |
2003 |
Duke Dahlin |
Aug 8, 2003 |
14:37 |
E to F |
2004 |
John Ottersberg |
Aug 14, 2004 |
14:36 |
E to F |
2004 |
Si Bunting |
Aug 25, 2004 |
9:44 |
E to F |
2005 |
Neal Rayner |
Aug 10, 2005 |
13:50 |
E to F |
2005 |
Brian Herrick |
Aug 11, 2005 |
12:58 |
E to F |
2005 |
Tom Keller |
Aug 16, 2005 |
11:22 |
E to F |
2006 |
Scott Haskins |
Aug 16, 2006 |
10:25 |
E to F |
2006 |
Jon Ennis |
Sep 13, 2006 |
13:01 |
E to F |
2007 |
Amber Rhett |
Aug 24, 2007 |
13:20 |
E to F |
2009 |
Michael Tschantz-Hahn |
July 31, 2009 |
11:19 |
E to F |
2009 |
Catheryne DiPrete |
Aug 17, 2009 |
12:12 |
E to F |
2009 |
Laurin Weisenthal |
Sep 26, 2009 |
8:33 |
E to F |
Compiled by Richard
Cooper — February 2012
For a firsthand feel to swimming the channel, check out Neal
Rayner's journal and photos. Neal successfully swam the Channel
this summer.
Becky
Fenson swam the English Channel in 1996 and twice completed the
swim around Manhattan Island, in 1994 and 1999. Heim-Bowen
swam the Channel twice in one year; Selmer completed his crossing
the year he turned 50. Egyptian-born Toufie Blaik swam the Channel
twice, in 1953 and 1955, before joining the Dolphin Club in 1957.
The English
Channel swim is also undertaken as a relay race. Five
Dolphin teams, including two all-female teams, have
completed the Channel relay, which requires each of six participants
to swim an hour at a time until the entire distance is covered.
English Channel
swimming is governed by a rigorous set of rules enforced by
the English Channel Swimming Association. Swimmers wear only
a standard swimsuit and one latex cap; they are monitored at
all times by an official observer in a pilot boat. Swimmers
may accept food and beverages, but they are not allowed to
touch the support boat at any time during their swim. |
