History & Successes
SOLO MARATHON SWIMS (continuous unassisted shore to shore swims wearing only swim suit, cap, and goggles):
- 17 Attempts (by 11 swimmers)
- 5 Completed
- September 1980, Cindy Cleveland, 15:21:00 (first trans-bay swim) from Cowell Beach to Lovers Beach (24 Miles)
- August 2014, Patti Bauernfeind, 13:00:00 (fastest solo crossing) from SC Harbor to San Carlos Beach (25 Miles)
- September 2014, Kim Rutherford, 22:06:00 (first South to North) from San Carlos Beach to SC Harbor (25 Miles)
- September 2017, Amy Gubser, 17:49:05 from SC Harbor to San Carlos Beach (25 Miles)
- June 2019, John Zemaitis, 17:23:51 (first male solo marathon) from SC Harbor to San Carlos Beach (25 Miles)
- Bruckner Chase, 2010
- South End Rowing Club (SERC) 6 person relay 2001
September 29, 2001 SERC, (6 person team) Kristine Buckley, Colleen Vojvodich, Gary Emich, Dan Needham, Drew Downs, Laura Colette swam from Seabright to San Carlos Beach (25 miles ) in 12:24:16 . - UCSC: 7 Person Relay 2001
October 14, 2001, UCSC (7 person team) April Alexander, Eric Peterson, Ryan Walker, Ben Weston, Brett Gravlin, Andrea Maglasang-Miller, Scott Valley swam from Main Beach Santa Cruz to Hopkins Beach, Monterey (25 miles) in 10:32:00 - UCSC: Additional Relays from ~2002-2012
Swims went from Seabright (by the Harbor) to San Carlos Beach (25 miles). Times vary. MBSA is awaiting more records from USCS. - Santa CRUZ Masters 2004, 2008, 2009
- In 2004 CRUZ (team unknown) swam from Santa Cruz to Monterey (time unknown).
- In 2008 CRUZ (8 person team) Randy Brown, Joel Swartz, Karah Nazor, Moby Coquillard, Jim Sweeny, Dan Sheridan, Judith Sheridan, Joel Wilson swam from Seabright to MB Aquarium (24 miles) in 9:27:00.
- In 2009 CRUZ (6 person team) Hendrik Meerman, Joel Wilson, Marta Bechhoefer, Michelle Macy, Tim Cespedes and Lizzie Miller swam from Seabright to San Carlos Beach (25 miles) in 10:29:00.
- SERC & Dolphin Club 2004
In 2004 there was a mixed SERC and Dolphin Club relay that swam from Santa Cruz to Monterey. Details are unknown. - West End Wharf Wine and Swim Club 2008 (attempted a mix wetsuit and skin relay that was aborted mid swim)
- Night Train Swimmers 2012 Crossed the bay on its way during their San Francisco to Santa Barbara Relay.
- Kelp Krawlers 2015
August 23, 2015 Kelp Krawlers, (5 person team), Frank Reynolds, Thomas Dietrich, Michael Sharf, Paul Reynolds, Joe Schertler swam from Capitola to Lovers Beach (24 miles) in 10:20:55. This was the first MBSA sanctioned relay and the first relay to swim from Capitola to Lovers Beach. - Nadadores Locos 2016
May 1, 2016, Nadadores Locos (6 person team), Andrew McLaughlin, Amy Gubser, Kirk McKinney, Les Mangold, John Sims, Jeff Everett swam from San Carlos Beach Monterey to Cowell Beach Santa Cruz (25.3 miles) in 13:41:32. This was the first RELAY from Monterey to Santa Cruz. - Sea Otter 6 - South End Rowing Club 2016
September 11, 2016, the Sea Otter 6 (6 person team), Asha Allen, Jane Mason, Becky Margulies, Jessica Moll, Leeann Borton, and Joy Hollenback swam from Cowell Beach Santa Cruz to Lovers Beach Monterey (24 miles) in 12:41:00. This was the first RELAY team to complete this swim entirely NAKED. - Women's Monterey Bay Crossing - Relay 2018
September 22, 2018, the Monterey 5 person team, Maggie Albers, Marisa Lovos, Kristine Cosgrove, Christa Prior, and Claire Linney swam from Harbor Beach Santa Cruz to Monterey Municipal/Del Monte Beach Monterey (26 miles) in 12:59:40. - Team Five-O First Double Monterey Bay Relay Swim 2019
May 4 and 5, 2019, the 6 person team, Scott Tapley, Kim Rutherford, John Chapman, Amy Gubser, Greg Lendhal, and Sarah Roberts swam from Seabright Beach Santa Cruz to San Carlos Beach Monterey and back to Seabright Beach Santa Cruz (50 miles) in 29:51:10.
Pier to Pier Swim Race:
MBSA revived the traditional Pier to Pier Swim race between the Capitola and Santa Cruz Wharfs. This swim was originally organized by Suzanne Riedinger and became an annual event organized by Joel Wilson. This swim course is mapped at 10K, but requires challenging navigation for the swimmer and pilot. It often swims between 6.2 and 7 miles. If you plan to swim this event, be prepared to swim between 2.75 and 5 hours.
- 2016 swimmers: Amy Gubser, Andrew McLaughlin, Eric Gutierrez, Tiffany McQueen, Cathy Harrington. View results here.
- 2018 swimmers: Jen Gallacher, Kim Hedges, Stan Kurtz, Mathiew Fuzellier, Mathew Williams, Silke Jobst, Diane Faraone, James Nagamine, John Jeha, Kelley Prebil, Susan Blew, Van Cornwell, Kirk McKinney, Evan Morrison, Sarah Roberts, Dylan Tweney. View results here.
Monterey Bay Swimming Association is currently reviewing P2P swims prior to 1996 and from 2006 to 2015 and 2017. Any swims that we can verify will be added here soon.
20K Round Trip Pier to Pier (a.k.a. Wharf to Wharf to Wharf):
Angel More
On September 29 , 2016 13 year old Angel More completed a 20K swim from Capitola to Santa Cruz and Back. She started at the Capitola Wharf, swam 2 miles south (directly out to sea) then west toward Santa Cruz. After rounding the Santa Cruz Wharf and swimming to Cowell Beach, Angel did a U-turn and swam in reverse back to Capitola Beach. She completed the first 10K in 3:25 and finished in a time of 8 hours, 19 minutes.
12 Mile Jay Moriarity Memorial Paddleboard Race Course:
Scott Tapley - June 17, 2017 Scott swam the Jay Race long course, starting in Capitola, swimming to Santa Cruz, then to the the Mile Buoy, and returning to Capitola.
Santa Cruz Wharf to Cement Ship (Seacliff Beach, Aptos):
The first know swim was from Cowell Beach to the Cement Ship by Suzanne Riedinger (date needs verification).
This swim has been done by several indiviuals and group over the past 15 years, including the Nadadores Locos swim club.
Patti Bauernfeind also completed this swim more than once (including a round trip) while training for the Monterey Bay and English Channel.