On Day 1 of the 8 Anacapa Crossings in 7 Days adventure, Jim McConica broke the Anacapa channel record by more than 20 minutes on a gorgeous day with an unofficial time of 4 hours 38 minutes.

The former University of Southern California pool swimming star and International Masters Swimming Hall of Fame inductee broke the record of 17-year-old teammate and training partner Nick Vargas.  Vargas just set his record on September 9th.

En route across the channel, his wife Michelle McConica reported in a message to shore “It’s been flat and calm and gorgeous with a little bit of a dolphin show.”

When asked about his impressions of the swim and conditions, the husband had a slightly different perspective, “I’m toast.”

One down…seven more crossings to go.

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