A double crossing of the Maui (Auau) Channel has now been done three times. Meredith Novack of Oahu set a goal of replicating Dr. Peter Attia's Lanai-to-Maui-and-back crossing in 2008. His completed the 20-mile Maui Channel double was completed in 11 hours 45 minutes. In 2003, Californian Dea Ann Joslin completed the first solo round-trip crossing of the
"My crew and I are ready to go after dreaming of this challenge last year," says photographer Meredith Novack. "It is my first channel swim and I have learned so much this year. We really are the little engine that could with a big dream and the heart and determination to get it done. There are 6 military, lifeguards, and firefighters on my crew on the
Relays in the pool and running relays are easy to understand. The pool swimmers can only dive in once their teammate has touched the wall. The runner proceed once they have exchanged a baton. But what about swimming relays? What are the rules of exchanges (change-overs or takeovers) between swimmers on a relay? Like many things in the open water
From frolicking as a child in pools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to a collegiate career as a butterflyer at Penn State, software engineer Quinn Carver has been swimming for much of his life. But his career took off when he hit the tropical waters in Hawaii where he currently resides. His inter-island channel crossings in Hawaii include the 8.8-mile Maui
Bill Goding has always lent a helping hand. Whether it is mainland visitors to Hawaii or a foreign marathon swimmer attempting to swim between islands, Goding has always ben willing to help. A true waterman and retired Honolulu lifeguard who is skilled in all types of conditions and equipment, he has also done a number of inter-island swims including the
It was an unusual year in the Hawaiian islands. There were 17 channel attempts and 17 successes. It is an unusual year with a 100% success rate. The success probably had several factors working in its favor: 1. The quality of the athletes. Most of the athletes have spent significant time in the oceans and have proven themselves in the open water. 2.
The official state gem is black coral. The color of its waters varies between a light marine green to a deep royal blue. The power of the ocean is majestic to see with its massive ocean swells and spectacular surf. Open water events, from surfing to swimming, are held there nearly every weekend of the year. It is Hawaii, an isolated group of islands
Escort pilots are the umbilical cord between the open water swimmer and safety. Without them, swimmers literally could not swim (straight) from Point A to Point B. They are the selfless, professional guides of the marathon swimming and channel swimming world. Below is a all-too-short listing of some of the more experienced pilots around the world
Below is a partial list of the growing number of marathon swims (long distance swims, ultra-marathon swims) in America. These include established solo swims governed by an existing association or federation, relays, events and competitions, but it does not include stage swims by one individual or solo swims not governed by an existing association or events
Ray Tsuchiyama wrote the history of swimming the channels in Hawaii with some interesting back stories about the Maui Channel, for the Maui News. He describes the first crossing by Jim Caldwell whose swim in 1970 set the stage for over other swimmers who have since crossed the 8.8-mile Maui Channel between the islands of Lanai and Maui. Tsuchiyama's story
