Dawn broke and I got sun - real sun! The wind died and conditions were fine and the initial cold water temperature of 15C (60F) increased to 16.5C.
I was treated to an above water flip by a seal which then swam under me and smiled. And when I started to noticeably tire after 7-hours, I was treated to the sight of manta rays swimming below. To get the best view I stopped completely and hung, face down, in the water. They took off on the sound of a giant crash as one kayaker launched himself into the water (the boat crew thought I was drowning). I looked up before any contact was made and the crew (led by my wife) withheld candy on the next two feeding stops as punishment for scaring them!
Two miles from the coast, the temperature dropped to 15.5C and I suffered a face on current, strong enough to only allow 300 meters progress in 30 minutes. Much later we figured out that despite a small wind from behind and the incoming tide (both of which were helping me) we were getting an upwelling of cold water from the deep undersea canyon which was driving me backwards.
David jumped in to swim alongside me and eventually we made the breakwater. From there it was surfing in with the waves until my hand touched. The knees were wobbly as I staggered out.
With the boat out 1/2-mile or more, and only a kayak as possible transport, going back wasn’t the best option. Ben, the kayaker, didn’t like the fact that David was shivering but I was beyond shivering (I hadn’t felt cold). He quickly called 911.
I was escorted to a frontage house where an outdoor hot shower and blanket appeared at just about the same time as the paramedics (two red trucks with flashing lights). My wife (on the boat) forgot about the manta ray episode - she feared the worst.
Off to the hospital, my core temperature below 90F (32C), I spent the next five hours recovering from hypothermia and something called starvation ketosis (caused by poor feeding and excessive effort). With all the delays in starting and my fear of sickness on the boat, it was 15 hours from my last meal to the start of the swim.
I was in the water 10 hours and 27 minutes, and broke David’s previous record for the swim by just under 5 hours. One of the funnier things happened (as reported to me later) in the second paramedic truck (a kind of red boxy ambulance). They gave David, Ben and his kayak a lift to the pier to be united with the boat. The older fireman/paramedic was taking about this bringing back memories from more than 20 years ago when he was a life guard and saved some guy who went down swimming from Anacapa Island. David then dropped his chin, slowly lifted his arm, smiled and thanked him!
My wife and the channel association Founder and Executive Director (my friend Emilio) went to the wrong hospital first but eventually found me and even brought clothes. Alison and Freda Streeter had been waiting on the pier for the finish – and joined us all for dinner the next evening (and presented me with a signed chart). Paul Lewis called with congratulations the next morning and the crew had a big dinner two nights later.
I thanked the young kayaker, Ben, for giving up a day to escort me. He said he had a great time and told all his friends that he kayaked the channel. He then said "I had a ring side seat for a world class athletic event" - one of the nicest things I ever heard!
I started the swim 15 pounds lighter than I was before my 2005 English Channel swim. The colder water, the delay in starting, my feeding, my reduced insulation took its toll. For me, this was a harder swim than the English Channel.
The Santa Barbara Channel swim was a great experience and I look forward to its increased popularity. Alison Streeter was sizing up a double (or was it a triple?) while she was there, so watch out in 2007!
About the Author: Ned Denison played water polo goalie in the USA and England for twenty years before taking up open water swimming in 2000. His move to Cork Ireland allows all year sea training (no wet suit) in temperatures ranging from 7C to 17C (45F to 63F). Active in Cork Masters, and up to 200 local open water swims annually in Ireland keeps him fit. Ned swam the English Channel in 2005, Santa Barbara in 2006 and has been accepted for the 2007 28.5 mile swim around Manhattan Island.
