Photos courtesy of Loren Wright, Masters Option Photography (@mastersoption).

Hank WIse (58, USA, MSF bio here, @dolphin_boy) completed crossing #11 in the Catalina Channel today. This brought him one more crossing than Jesus Samuel Neri Gutiérrez (62, Mexico, MSF bio here, @triton_mexicano) who has crossed 10 times in his career.

With today’s 12 hour 30 minute 44 second crossing, Wise reclaimed the title of the King of the Catalina Channel, a designation that he has held on and off over the years, alternating with his Mexican rival Neri.

It was not an easy crossing, especiallly when Wise swam into strong oncoming currents that nearly dropped his forward progress to zero. But he did a mid-channel course correction with escort kayaker Adam Luco (@adamluco), Captain Sean Lieppman, and First Mate Brennan Rose. They started to move again towards the Southern California coastline and got the job done.

#3 of this summer season and #11 in his career.

11 Catalina Crossings of Hank Wise, King of the Catalina Channel

1. October 2010, age 42: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 8:07:03
2. June 2015, age 47: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Santa Catalina Island in 8:07:37
3. October 2015, age 47: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 10:56:44 at the age of 47.
4. November 2016, age 48: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 8:20:10 at the age of 48.
5. October 2017, age 49: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 10:14:00 at the age of 49.
6. November 2017, age 49: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 10:01:52 at the age of 49.
7. October 2018, age 50: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 7:55:06
8. September 2025, age 57: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Palos Verdes Peninsula to Catalina Island on Arrow Point in 8:07.53
9. August 2026, age 58: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Arrow Point on Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 9:38:35
10. September 2026, age 58: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Doctor’s Cove on Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 9:22:15
11. October 2026, age 58: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Doctor’s Cove on Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 12:30:44

10 Catalina Crossings of Samuel Neri

1. September 2011, age 46: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 13 hours 44 minutes
2. July 2013, age 48: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 12 hours 16 minutes
3. October 2014, age 49: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Southern California mainland to Catalina Island in 17 hours 32 minutes
4. October 2015, age 50: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 11 hours 55 minutes
5. October 2016, age 51: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 11 hours 50 minutes
6. June 2017, age 52: 32.3 km crossing of the Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 14 hours 40 minutes
7. November 2019, age 55: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 13 hours 7 minutes
8. June 2023, age 59: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 15 hours 17 minutes.
9. November 2025, age 61: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 15 hours 27 minutes
10. September 2026, age 62: 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Palos Verdes Peninsula to Catalina Island in 17 hours 46 minutes

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