Swim Puerto Rico

Ok sports fans! Thanks for following along with today’s installment of Stupid Human Tricks! I’m pleased to report that Maura Twomey completed her crossing of the Catalina Channel this afternoon in roughly 15:45 (pending ratification). To be sure, she was significantly faster across that stretch than she expected and she earned every stroke. She started in lumpy swells and those conditions devolved into downright blustery slop the closer we got to land. She got swept down the coast well away from the intended landing spot at Smuggler’s Cove. We finally made landfall near White Point Beach in San Pedro. The rocks were beyond treacherous and the waves were relentless. Both Maura and I got tumbled and swirled and it became achingly apparent soon after we cleared the water that we weren’t going to be able to get back off the beach in those conditions to return to the boat. So we became mountain goats and headed up overland. Just as we made this decision, our knight in shining armor, aka Andrew Newman, suddenly appeared and lent a hand to get us up to the trail where three lovely LA lifeguards met us to give us a once over and patch up some scrapes. Andrew drove us back to the dock to meet the boat and the rest of the crew and now we’ve had a hot tub and a shower and are thinking about getting some food and going to bed. What an adventure! Barbara Jane

You guys! Maura Twomey is doing so amazingly well out here! It was a long, lumpy night but conditions have improved considerably and she’s making excellent time. I just swam for an hour with her and her stroke looks long and strong. We had a red footed b***y as passenger on the bow of the boat for a long while too — it must have gotten blown off course with all that wind last night but was happy to join our adventure for a spell. It’s just gorgeous out here and we’re creeping up on the coast. Barbara Jane Sidney Russell Victor Maldonado Twomey.

Catalina to California ,, Maura (swimmer) 🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️