Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association

03/28/2026

Check out Episode 5 of The UltraSwimming Podcast to hear SBCSA board member, Karina Garcia, discuss the amazing swim opportunities in the Santa Barbara Channel. Listen to all the episodes to get great insight into the sport and to learn from accomplished swimmers! https://ultraswimming.org/news?category=podcast

03/28/2026

02/10/2026

Some scenes from the SBCSA banquet weekend! Swimmers, boat captains, support crew, friends and family celebrated the 2025 swimmers and heard from guest speaker Claire Fackler of NOAA. The weekend ended with a dip at Seaward on Sunday morning. Can’t wait until next year’s celebration. 🎉 Thank you to and for hosting us for the second year in a row.

10/28/2025

Congratulations to Lauren Graffort of Sausalito, CA who swam from Anacapa to Silver Strand on October 26th, 2025 in 6 hours 59 minutes (unofficial time, pending ratification).

The highlight of the swim was the abundance of marine life that surrounded Lauren from the start! She was accompanied by a small sea lion who acted as a pace swimmer for over 15 minutes and then jumped alongside the boat. Lauren also swam through a super pod of porpoise. Lauren was delighted by this amazing encounter. Water temperatures were 64-65 degrees with overcast skies. The swim started with glassy conditions but as the wind picked up, so did the chop.

This was Lauren’s first ocean channel and first solo swim! She was supported by Anders Peterson and Greg Gubser who piloted the swim on the Mako. SBCSA board member, Amy Gubser, observed the swim. Congratulations, Lauren, on a strong swim as the SBCSA closes out the 2025 season!

10/28/2025

Congratulations to Leah Taylor-Kearney of Ireland (living in Oakland, CA) who swam from Anacapa to Silver Strand on October 25th, 2025 in 6 hours 46 minutes (unofficial time, pending ratification).

Despite her wishes to be encompassed by dolphins and see a garibaldi fish, her observer reports that all she saw was 3 blades of sea grass! There were some dolphins about 20 yards from her, but she did not see them. However, she admired the sapphire waters of the Anacapa Channel and had “Bert” the sea bird patrol nearby during the swim. Conditions were overcast with water temps between 63 and 65 degrees. Later in the swim, there was some wind chop, but that did not phase Leah who was well prepared for this swim as a member of SERC. This is Leah’s second jewel in her California Triple Crown.

Leah was supported by Anders Peterson and pilot Greg Gubser on the Mako. Amy Gubser of the SBCSA observed the swim. Well swum, Leah!

10/27/2025

Congratulations to Jackie NeJaime of San Francisco, CA who swam from Anacapa Island to Silver Strand in 9 hours, 7 minutes (unofficial time, pending ratification) on October 24th, 2025.

Jackie started the swim at sunrise west of Arch Rock with water temp sat 64, calm seas, high fog, and a couple of young sea lions playing nearby. Two and half hours into the swim at a feed break, Jackie proclaimed that she ‘wanted dolphins now!’ About five minutes later, the dolphins arrived. Jackie got to swim with a couple of pods of dolphins for the next 15 minutes. Later, past Gina, a seagull flew down almost on top of Jackie and paddled around her. The crew named him Doug and he made another appearance at a feeding later in the swim.

Jackie was escorted by Captain Greg Gubser on
Mako with Amy Gubser as crew chief and SBCSA board member, Jane Cairns, as observer. Congratulations, Jackie, on your first ocean channel!

10/22/2025

Congratulations to Ryan Nelson of Pacifica, CA who swam from Anacapa to Silver Strand on October 19th, 2025 in 8 hours, 2 minutes (unofficial time, pending ratification).

Ryan started the swim with fellow SERC swimmer Amy Gubser at sunrise in 64 degree water and a sky streaked with clouds. About 2.5 hours into the swim, the swimmers and the boat were surrounded by dolphins who played with Ryan and Amy for over 30 minutes! It was magical. Next, they had to play frogger in the north bound shipping lane with three cargo ships that were clumped together. Captain Greg Gubser ,with his precise navigation, ensured that the swimmers and crew were safe. Unfortunately, a few miles to the finish, Amy became extremely nauseous and pulled out but Ryan was able to continue and complete his first channel crossing.

The swim was supported by Keianna Pineda and piloted by Greg Gubser on the Mako. SBCSA board member, Jane Cairns, observed the swim. Congratulations, Ryan!

10/21/2025

Congratulations to Keianna Pineda of Davis, CA who swam from Anacapa to Silver Strand on October 18th, 2025 in a speedy 5 hours 26 minutes (unofficial time, pending ratification).

Keianna enjoyed water temps of 63-65 degrees and relatively low wind. Throughout the swim, she was surrounded by pods of porpoises, sea lions, and seals. This is the first channel swim for Keianna who has a competitive water polo background.

Keianna was supported by Ryan Nelson as crew and Greg Gubser who piloted the swim on the Mako. The swim was observed by SBCSA board member, Amy Gubser. Congratulations on your first channel swim, Keianna!

10/19/2025

Congratulations to Kate Howell of San Francisco, CA who swam from Anacapa to Silver Strand on October 17th, 2025 in 8 hours 25 minutes (unofficial time, pending ratification).

Kate started at sunrise east of Landing Cove with calm, 65 degree water. Seeing her off was a ‘swim team’ of juvenile sea lions. Kate had beautiful conditions throughout the swim and was later visited by a pod of bottlenose dolphins who swam around and under her.

Kate was supported by Marus Dobrowlski and Matha Howell. The swim was observed by SBCSA board member, Jane Cairns, and piloted by Greg Gubser on the Mako. This swim completes Kate’s California Triple Crown! Congratulations, Kate on your accomplishment!

10/16/2025

Congratulations to Joel Virgel from Los Angeles, CA who swam from Anacapa Island to Silverstrand on October 12th, 2025 in 7 hours and 13 minutes (unofficial time, pending ratification).

Joel started the swim right before sunrise near Landing Cove with 64 degree water, calm seas and clear skies. The first half of Joel’s swim was smooth with not much wildlife. About half way through, Joel and crew encountered a family of orcas! Three orcas were right Joel’s path and swam around the swimmer and boat for about 15 minutes. Spotting orcas this close to the swimmer is a first for an SBCSA swim and it was a breathtaking experience for everyone. Big swell and waves helped Joel finish the swim on the beach.

Joel was escorted by Captain Jed Beck on the Faith with Jenny Goode as crew chief, Neil Van Der Byl as kayaker and Gabe Mayhan and Nick Sammons as cinematographers. The swim was observed by SBCSA board member Jane Cairns and sponsored by the Turtle Conservancy. Congratulations on a successful Anacapa swim, Joel!
*Orca video courtesy of Captain Jed Beck.

09/19/2025

Congratulations to Kim Hedges of the South End Rowing Club (SERC) for completing the 27.5 mile swim from Santa Rosa Island to Coal Oil Point in 19 hrs 24 mins (unofficial time, pending ratification) on September 16th. Kim is the 4th person to complete this swim.

Although the swim had been delayed due to high winds & swells and small craft advisories, Kim was fortunate to find a short window of excellent, calm, glassy conditions for the majority of the swim. As she approached the mainland, afternoon winds & chop came up to make it a bit of a challenge to reach the shore but she prevailed.
Along the way, many pods of dolphins came by to play around her and the boat. A pair of grey whales came very close to the boat to the delight of the crew. Kim’s crew and online supporters kept her amused with Dad Jokes during her feedings.

Kim was supported by fellow SERC swimmers Ken Mignosa (Crew Chief & Support Swimmer) and Radha Tomassetti (Kayaker & Crew). Captain Danny Graham, assisted by Captain Brent Eriksen, piloted the Triton. SBCSA Board Member Gary King observed the swim. Congratulations to Kim for a swim well done!

09/19/2025

Congratulations to Karina Garcia of Ventura, CA who swam from Santa Rosa Island to Coal Oil Point on September 16th in 14 hours and 5 minutes setting a new course record (unofficial time, pending ratification). Karina was the third person to complete the swim after Marc Lewis in 2008 and Caroline Block in 2018. Coincidentally, another swimmer, Kim Hedges, was swimming from Santa Rosa on the same day!

Karina enjoyed a beautiful day in the channel with temperatures ranging from 61 to 66 degrees and mostly calm, glassy conditions which is not typical for that region. As Karina and her crew/swim buddies would say, “the Channel Gods smiled upon her.”

Karina was supported by Melinda Busch, Jeremy Gencavage, and Bob Garcia. The swim was observed by Stacey Warmuth and Jim McConica and piloted by Captain Jace and crew on the New Hustler. Congratulations!