Peter Urrea is an American open water swimmer from San Francisco, California. He is the one the oldest successful swimmers of the English Channel. He has completed two of the Southern California Eight and is a member of the Half Century Club and the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming for having swum across the English Channel (14 hours 36 minutes in 1996) and Catalina Channel (13 hours 40 minutes in 1997) and for twice completing a circumnavigation swim around Manhattan Island (1991 and 1998 in 9 hours). He also participated on a North Channel relay from Portpatrick, Scotland to Belfast, Ireland in August 1998 in 13 hours 7 minutes as well as a solo crossing of the Maui Channel in 1995.

In June 1999, he attempted a Strait of Juan de Fuca solo swim but had to be pulled from the water due to very close killer whale pod after 14 miles.

He also participated in a double-crossing relay of the Catalina Channel in 1993 that took 25 hours and a January 1994 relay across the Catalina Channel in 12 hours as well as a relay circumnavigation of the Catalina Island in 1995 in 27 hours.

Open Water Swimming Career

• English Channel Dover to Calais in August 1996 in 14 hours 36 minutes
• Catalina Channel in August 1997 in 13 hours 40 minutes
• Irish Sea Relay Record Portpatrick to Belfast (1st Time Scotland to Ireland) in August 1998 in 13 hours 7 minutes
• Maui Channel in August 1995 in 7 hours 30 minutes
• Strait of Juan de Fuca in June 1999, 14 mile attempt
• Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in 1991 and 1998 in 9 hours each swim
• San Francisco Bay Swim (Dolphin Club Longest Continuous Swim Record) in August 1999 in 12 hours 15 minutes
• San Francisco Bay (Dolphin Club Record Most Miles in 90 days in San Francisco Bay) between June-Aug 1999, 425 miles
• Seal Beach Solos: 12 miles: 3 times, roughly 7 hours each time
• Catalina Channel double crossing relay in August 1993, 40.4 miles in 25 hours
• Catalina Channel Winter Relay Record in January 1994 in 12 hours
• Around Catalina Island Relay, 60+miles in August 1995 in 27 hours
• Around Coronado Island Race 11 miles inAugust 1993-96; 3 times ~6 hours each race
• Alcatraz Race Swims: 6 times: 40-48 minutes between 1985-1999
• Masters National Open Water Championship Catalina Island 8.5 miles, 5 hours 30 minutes, 2nd Place
• Manhattan Island Marathon Swim on 16 June 2007, Did Not Finish
• Manhattan Island Marathon Swim on 11 July 1998 in 9:00:48
• Manhattan Island Marathon Swim on 10 August 1991 in 9:02:06

Santa Barbara Channel Half Century Club Members

Of the 53 official solo swims governed by the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association, 24.5% of the swims have been accomplished by these swimmers of the Half Century Club:

• Jim McConica – 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2008 (5:26 at age of 57) and 2012 (4:38 and 5:24 at age of 61)
• Emilio Casanueva – 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2008 (7:45 at age of 68)
• Dave Van Mouwerik – 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2010 (7:00 at age of 52)
• Lynn Kubasek – 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2011 (7:08 at age of 53)
• Chris Palfrey – 6 miles (9.7 km) from Santa Rosa Island to Santa Cruz Island in 2008 (2:52 at age of 51)
• Kevin Murphy – 24.8 miles (29.9 km) across the Santa Cruz Channel in 2007 (17:31 at age of 58)
• Ashby Harper – 23.5 miles (37.8 km) across the Santa Cruz Channel in 1984 (16:24 at age of 67)
• Peter Urrea – 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2007 (8:15 at age of 67)
• Chris Layton – 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2011 (6:00 at age of 52)
• Michael Hird – 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2012 (5:48 at age of 50)
• Tom Ball – 12.4 miles (19.9 km) across Anacapa Channel in 2012 (7:39 at age of 52)