Farmer Jim Crosses Catalina Channel To Set Record
Courtesy of Darren Miller, Huntington Beach, California. Jim Clifford became the oldest Catalina Channel swimmer in history this Sunday morning with a quick 9 hour 49 minute 20.2-mile crossing from Santa Catalina Island to the California mainland.
With Darren Miller, Lynn Kubasek, Barbara Held and Tom Hecker on his crew, he was bound to rip off a fast traverse even if the conditions were rough going out to the island. “The ride out was the toughest boat ride I’ve been on,” explains Miller. “I think the crew would agree. Jim faced wind in the early morning which died off. But then it came up again and quieted down again before sunrise.”
The agricultural attorney held a steady stroke count in the mid-60s throughout while the water temperature dropped from 72ºF (22ºC) near Catalina Island to 64ºF (17ºC) near the mainland. Clifford is one of the few farmers to successfully cross one of the Oceans Seven channels.
Photo of son Jake Clifford and father/farmer Jim Clifford at Pelican Cove in Rancho Palos Verdes, California is courtesy of Darren Miller.
Copyright © 2014 by World Open Water Swimming Association
Southern California native, born 1962, is the creator of the WOWSA Awards, Oceans Seven, Openwaterpedia, Citrus Corps, World Open Water Swimming Association, Daily News of Open Water Swimming, Global Open Water Swimming Conference. He is Chief Executive Officer of KAATSU Global and KAATSU Research Institute. Inductee in the International Marathon Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Swimmer, Class of 2001) and Ice Swimming Hall of Fame (Honor Contributor - Media, Class of 2019), recipient of the International Swimming Hall of Fame's Poseidon Award (2016), International Swimming Hall of Fame's Irving Davids-Captain Roger Wheeler Memorial Award (2010), USA Swimming's Glen S. Hummer Award (2007, 2010) and Harvard University's John B. Imrie Award (1984). Served on the FINA Technical Open Water Swimming Committee and as Technical Delegate with the 2011 Special Olympics World Summer Games, and 9-time USA Swimming coaching staff.
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