As a University of Hawaii junior Haley Chasin (MSF bio here, @chasin1997) won the 7 km Possibly Annual Hawaii Christmas Looong Distance Invitation Rough-H2O Swim in 2017 in the fastest overall time.

She has maintained that speed in her post-graduation years.

Today, 27-year-old Chasin set a new women’s record for the fastest crossing of the 45 km Molokai Channel, swimming from South Papohako Beach on  Molokai to Alan Davis Beach on Oahu in 11 hours 59 minutes. Her swim was the second fastest crossing in history.

Her escort pilot Michael Twigg-Smith reported on her start, “It was a beautiful full Strawberry Moon out with glassy water and no current.”

The conditions were great right from the start, but she battled sea sickness from the beginning.

Fellow Molokai Channel swimmer and feeder Terri Dietz (MSF bio here) decided to take matters into her hands and dove in the channel in an offer to support. Dietz got in and things got better. Since about 10:30 am, Chasin changed gears. Twigg-Smith said, “She got her beautiful stroke going again and is knocking down the kilometers. Haley was crushing the Ka’iwi as she headed towards Alan Davis Beach.”

Her time bested the previous women’s record held by Penny Palfrey (Australia, MSF bio here) in 12 hours 7 minutes set in 2011 at the age of 49.

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