Courtesy of WOWSA, Huntington Beach, California. Southern Californian Forrest Nelson completed an unprecedented December crossing of the Catalina Channel yesterday in 9 hours and 21 minutes under great conditions.
Despite a typically cool water temperature 59-61°F (15°C) for December, Forrest swam over an hour faster than his 2004 Catalina swim of 10 hours and 35 minutes.
Besides his two Catalina Channel swims, Nelson has completed the English Channel in 10:33 in 2005, the Catalina Channel in 10:35 in 2004, the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim in 9:41 in 2007, the Molokai Channel in 15:59 in 2006, the Cook Strait in 2008 in 11:56 and the 24-mile Tampa Bay Marathon Swim in 2005 in 10:21.
Gentleman Forrest created his quick time on some great conditions (low winds) and beneficial surface currents (see here), "I started at dawn with an experienced crew, which kept the re-fueling breaks short and sweet. Plus, you can't shower enough praise on an excellent support during a marathon event."
His legend grows.
Photo of Forrest by Cat Moore.
Copyright © 2009 by World Open Water Swimming Association
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