Courtesy of Swim Across America, Catalina Channel, Seven Mile Beach and Kiawah Island.

Travel the world raising money to fight cancer with Swim Across America to South Carolina (Kiawah Island), Cayman Islands (Seven Mile Beach), and Southern California (Catalina Channel). These new Swim Across America Experiences are now open for registration.

Megan Melgaard explains, “Swim Across America is excited to host the inaugural Kiawah Island benefit swim and open water clinic this July 23rd in South Carolina. In addition to the half-mile ocean swim, participants can join Olympians and triathlon coaches for a swim clinic and lunch at this renowned scenic destination as a way to fight cancer by fundraising to support clinical trials and research at Swim Across America Labs.

We will start the morning with an open water swim clinic where the topics will include ocean entries, exits, sighting, turns around a buoy, and evaluation of your swimming technique.”

Kiawah Island is a sea island, or barrier island, on the Atlantic coast of the United States. Located 25 miles (40 km) southwest of Charleston in South Carolina, it is operated today largely as a gated beach and golf resort — the Kiawah Island Golf Resort — with spacious villas, beaches, large and acclaimed golf courses, and other attractions.

For more information on the Kiawah Island Open Water Swim, visit here.

Melgaard explains about Swim Across America in the Cayman Islands. “Join Team Swim Across America between June 8th and 13th in Grand Cayman. The Cayman Islands has crystal clear waters where you can swim with several Olympians who annually flock to one of the most beautiful sea swims in the world: the Flowers Sea Swim.

You can swim in the 1 mile Flowers Sea Swim or its 5 km or 10 km races or in the UANA (Unión Americana de Natación) 2.5 km or 5 km relay events. Donations go to support clinical trials and cancer research at our Swim Across America Labs.”

For more information about the Flowers Sea Swim, visit here.

The longest and roughest ocean swim on the Swim Across America Experiences calendar is a Catalina Channel 40.4-mile two-way relay on July 17th, organized by Dan Simonelli.

Simonelli explains, “Relay teams of six swimmers will embark on a double crossing of the channel on July 17th and 18th. The successful swim will be observed and registered with the Catalina Channel Swimming Federation.

The double crossing will be limited to two teams of six swimmers. You may also register for a single relay crossing with 6 swimmers per team.

Swimmers will be required to complete a one-hour ocean swim and a one-hour night ocean swim without a wetsuit (official Catalina Channel Swimming Federation-sanctioned swims are without wetsuits). Swimmers must verify their one-hour day and night swims with an accredited coach or observer two months prior to the swim event, as well as provide past open water experience.”

Preparation swims and training plans are available through Simonelli, Director of the Open Water Swim Academy, who also offers day and night swim clinics on April 28th and 29the in La Jolla, California.

All double crossing relay swimmers must raise at least US$3,500.

For more information of the 20.2-mile SAA Catalina Channel Crossing, visit here.

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