Bengisu Avcı (@bengisuavcı) of Turkey completed a crossing of the Molokai Channel in a swift 12 hours 10 minutes today under the guidance of Michael Twigg-Smith [shown below]while Patrick Autissier also swam a very quick crossing, the eighth fastest in history in 12 hours 18 minutes on the same day.

Captain Ivan Shigaki, second pilot Kevin, feeder Rachel, and wife Anne Cecile Autissier supported the 61-year-old Autissier, the oldest Molokai Channel male swimmer* in history [see support team below]. “It was brutal and I am glad it is over,” said Autissier.

For more information on this scientist originally from Rueil-Malmaison, France, visit patrickautissier.com.

Two top ten swims in history on a historic day in Hawaii.

Top 10 Fastest Molokai Channel Swimmers

1. Andreas Waschburger (Germany) in 9 hours 55 minutes in October 2024
2. Mányoki Attila (Hungary) in 12 hours 2 minutes in September 2015 
3. Penny Palfrey (Australia) in 12 hours 7 minutes in November 2011        
4. Bengisu Avci (Turkey) in 12 hours 10 minutes in October 2024 
5. Jorge Ivan Agudelo Vargas (Columbia) in 12 hours 12 minutes in June 2023 
6. Darren Miller (USA) in 12 hours 12 minutes in October 2011 
7. Rob Woodhouse (Australia) in 12 hours 15 minutes in October 2023             
8. Patrick Autissier in 12 hours 18 minutes in October 2024
9. Sarah Thomas (USA) in 12 hours 39 minutes in February 2021
10. Chris Palfrey in 12 hours 53 minutes in April 2010  

* The oldest swimmer across the Molokai Channel in history was Pat Gallant-Charette in May 2017 when she crossed the channel in 23 hours 54 minutes at the age of 66 years 107 days.

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