Photos courtesy of Peter Knapp, Catalina Channel, California.

Hank Wise completed his fourth career Catalina Channel crossing in 8 hours 20 minutes today.*

In 2010 on his first crossing, the soon 49-year-old’s wife was pregnant with his son Fox.

How time flies.

“Today, my boy Fox was on the rocky beach at Terranea [Point] waiting for me, throwing rocks and messing around.”

Wise’s fourth career Catalina Channel crossing (8:07:04 CM in 2010, 8:07:37 MC in 2015, 10:56:44 CM in 2015, 8:20:10 in 2016 + participation in the record-setting 6:53:04 MC relay with Long Beach Swim Focus) is only behind the King of the Catalina Channel John York‘s six crossings (8:49:50 CM in 1976), 8:31:20 MC in 1977, 7:41:14 and 16:42:00 MCM in 1978, 8:54:01 CM in 1984, and 8:32:49 CM in 2000) and the Queen of the Catalina Channel six crossings (Tina Neill‘s 9:26:45 CM in 2007, 10:40:12 and 22:02:46 MCM in 2008), 10:37:42 (CM backstroke in 2008, 13:27:48 MC backstroke in 2014, and 10:33:43 CM in 2014).

His local team of boat captains Frances and Bill Garrett of Boat Penelope, observers Chris Geer and Julie Bender, and kayakers Sean Lieppman and Peter Knapp were flexible and local enough to enable Wise to swim within a window. “I changed the swim from Tuesday to this morning due to winds; the ability to have a window due to local resources and waterman friends is indispensable.”

* All-Time Top 25 Fastest Catalina Channel Crossings:

1. 7:15:55 by Penny Lee Dean, USA, MC in September 1976
2. 7:27:25 by Grace van der Byl, USA, CM in October 2012
3. 7:37:31 by Pete Huisveld, USA, MC in August 1992
4. 7:41:14 by John York, USA, MC in September 1978 (first leg of a 2-way)
5. 7:43:06 by Karen Burton, USA, CM in October 1994
6. 8:04:12 by Ceinwen Elizabeth Roberts, Australia, CM in September 2013
7. 8:05:44 by Todd Robinson, USA, CM in August 2009
8. 8:07:04 by Hank Wise, USA, CM in October 2010
9. 8:07:37 by Hank Wise, USA, MC in June 2015
10. 8:11:13 by Miquel Suñer Comalat, Spain, CM in July 2012
11. 8:14:46 by Chad Hundeby, USA, CM in September 1993
12. 8:18:27 by Blair Cannon, USA, CM in August 2011
13. 8:19:30 by Danielle Rose Wahl, USA, CM in June 2014
14. 8:20:19 by Hank Wise, USA, CM in November 2016
15. 8:20:48 by Gemma Jensen, Australia, CM in August 2006
16. 8:27:24 by Jim McConica, USA, CM in October 1983
17. 8:28:21 by Rendy Lynn Opdycke, USA, CM in August 2008
18. 8:31:20 by John York, USA, MC in October 1977
19. 8:32:49 by John York, USA, CM in October 2000
20. 8:33:18 by Andrea Karge, USA, CM in 2001
21. 8:35:44 by Anna Ray DeLozier, USA, CM in 2006
21. 8:35:44 by Derrick Wong, USA, CM in September 2011
23. 8:36.32 by Mallory Mead, USA, CM in August 2010
24. 8:42:57 by Heather Royer, USA, CM in 1998
25. 8:43:16 by Mary Beth Colpo, USA, CM in 1977

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