Six Local Swimmers to Swim from the Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge to Raise Money for Wounded Vets
Photo by Panegyrics of Granovetter
In the realm of bad ass, few things rank higher than swimming from the Farallon Islands to the Golden Gate Bridge, through what's ominously dubbed "The Red Triangle" due to its historically high concentration of Great White Shark attacks. On April 14, a group called The Night Train Swimmers will embark on this epic journey -- swimming 30 miles in 50-degree water to raise money for the Wounded Warrior Project, The Semper Fi Fund and the Navy Seal Foundation, all of which support and empower wounded veterans. It's a six-person relay, and each member will swim for about an hour in three rotations. The water is cold, choppy and current-ridden, making this one of the toughest open water swims around. A 2010 attempt at the swim was aborted when one of the swimmers came down with extreme hypothermia after just 42 minutes in the water.
The Night Swimmers are made up of six local swimmers: Vito Bialla, Darrin Connolly, Phil Cutti, David Holscher, Joe Locke and John Mathews. They'll set off from the Farallons at 6:00 am on April 14 and are slated to pass underneath the Golden Gate Bridge at approximately 7:00 pm. Check out their site for live GPS tracking updates on April 14 and for information on how to donate to their cause.
under Fitness + Outdoors, Farallon Islands, The Night Swimmers
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GO,GO ! YOUR ALMOST THERE !
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Everything you need to know here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/us/06bcintelligence.html
I swim in aquatic park often...with a wetsuit. What these guys are doing is an impressive feat, but no more risky than summitting Mt. Everest. If a group was planning an Everest campaign to bring attention to a worthwhile charity, you'd cheer them on and possibly spread the word to donate if you could. This is the same, and that's what I'm doing.
Good luck fellas. You've got big brass ones for sure.
Oh and thanks Mike. I'll take your number out there.
And SERC and Night Train Swimmers don't know what wetsuits are! ;) Channel Rules for this swim, regular swimsuit, goggles and a swim cap. What else do you need?
Thanks for the write-up Jennifer. I really appreciate you taking the time to get the word out.
Thanks for all the comments, feedback and support. If you get a chance, please take the time to check out our website, www.nighttrainswimmers.org. We do swims around the globe for charity and this little swim has been haunting us for quite awhile. When we talk about the swim, we often get 1 of 2 reactions: the tilted head with the "are you out of your mind?!" look or the "good luck, glad it's not me" look. Let's make something clear, as far as we know, none of us are crazy or ignorant of the risks. We are afraid of sharks, don't know many in the right mind who are not. If we were doing this swim in October, middle of "shark season", then some of you may have a point. Why are we doing this? We are endurance athletes and the challenge drives us. One of our swimmers is a Vietnam Vet and started this group in 2008. Since then we have raised over $1 million dollars through our various ultra-swims and runs. Some may not agree with using this swim as the platform of raising funds for wounded military veterans, thinking that we are doing something trivial. We are more than aware of the sacrifices our military men and women make for us every minute of the day. It is their selfless acts that we honor as we work as a team to achieve this goal.
We hope that you stand (or swim, if you like) with us and support our effort through donating to our charities.
Thanks for reading.
Phil
Don't listen to that idiot good sense. Donate to this cause. He's sounds like a typical report by saying, the waters are filled with 'MONSTER' Great White Sharks. They are not trying to draw attention to themselves and are benefitting a great cause. Then there's the other idiot that says he'll donate a hundred every time a swimmer taps a great white. I'd like to throw him in the ocean out there. The odds of attack are still small. Sharks are not out there looking to attack humans. One other guys said the water temp is far colder than Alcatraz Waters. Well for his info, the surface temp difference is very small. Anything below 60 degrees is hard on the bare human skin, so it makes no difference.
According to my research - there's actually been only two folks to complete this swim - not sure if they did it without a wet suit or not. As a life time member of the Dolphin Club and someone who's made a few long Bay Swims without a wet suit, hats off to these guys for trying - and a great cause. If they do this relay without a wet suit - I'd be impressed - not so much if they're using a wet suit. ...Let's see - if they each do 2 miles an hour - 15 legs - about 3 swims each - My guess is they'd have a better time avoiding the great whites without a wet suit - because those devils love baby seals - and I've been told that it's hard for the great white to tell the difference between a man in a wet suit and a seal...
Thats the SPIRIT Captain Mike!
They are going to do this regardless everyone. Their business not ours. They decided to tie a charity that will benefit a very special group. I for one hope they suceed.......
Hello Swimmers,
My name is Mike I'm the boat Captain on the Pilot Boat Drake and we will be holding station on April 14th. We are located 11 miles West of the Golden Gate Bridge. If you have any questions or need help in any way please don't hesatate to get a hold of us ( You can contact us on VHF CH.13, CH. 10 Phone # 415-518-3342 ).
Mike Sposeto
A great cause, but not a great idea sorry. I've seen videos where researchers have thrown inanimate objects like surfboards into the water out there, and the sharks attacked them in no time.
Then dont give them anything! You probably have never contributed to a cause ever anyway! Or, why don't you do something (safer) that assist our wounded veterans? Better yet.......just get off this board and go away!
Why don't we just bring back tight rope walking at the circus with no net? I know those islands and they are infested with huge, monster Great White Sharks. Why would anyone contribute to this foolish group that is trying to draw attention to themselves under the guise of benefiting veterans? Give them nothing.
As a veteran, and someone that takes ANY charity to assist our young, brave, wounded veterans personal, I applaud these swimmers and wish them all a safe journey. Some of you are on this board bashing the swimmers manhood and egos. Shame on you! These guys are doing something incredibly special. They are about to attempt a feat that is dangerous and difficult, not for self pride or egos, but because such a difficult feat draws awareneess to the importance of the charity itself. The more people that hear of this (swim), the more people that will hopefully contribute. Would you show up, cheer on and contribute $ to our brave soldiers if it were a pie eating contest? These swimmers care! These guys are doing something special. So instead of being critical, how about motivating them and wishing them luck!!!
Very, very stupid. Have any of you saying we are naysayers ever been that far out??? Will, I have, several times, and it is extremely far, much colder than Alcatraz waters and full of sharks! Give it up swimmers!!
Mind your own freakin' business. these people want to do something they enjoy and help veterans to boot.
really!!! this is just stupid. wouldn't catch me dead in SF bay/ocean.. not even in 70degree water. Just not a good idea
IF anyone can do this its these Nighttrain swimmers! Go get it done guys! Good luck!
..."after JUST 42 minutes in the water"... in 50F water most people, myself included wouldn't last 1 minute!
Forget swimming....shark wrestling.
I agree with Voice of Reason: well intended but completely foolish. Extreme sports stunts have gotten totally out of hand. Can't you guys prove your manhood in some other way?
Well intended but completely foolish and just asking for it. Please!!!! Swim across Clear lake or Tahoe. Still sketchy but no hungry Great Whites mistaking you all for seals.
Even more manlier than any of those guys:
http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local/san_francisco&id=753...
ill donate a hundred for every time they tap my friend in the grey and white suit!
Cool story bro.
Now if you were a real man....
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