1967 Farralon Swim still stands!!

The only 3l.5 mile marathon swim (by Ted Erikson) through frigid, tidal, and shark infested waters between the Farallon Islands and the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Erikson
• swim
• marathon
• Farralon
• sharks
• cold
• Golden
• Gate
• San
• Francisco

[sdogv]

Re: comments

Time was 14.63 hours

Feedings were glucose plus anything to flavor and pour, e.g. peaches, pea soup, etc.

Some feedings were heated.

Yep, I was a bit crazy..but lucky after the 1967 unsuccessful run.

[sdogv]

Not so insane in 1967!!!! Shark population was ~10 times less.

[Sodnal]

Awesome achievment, but there are definitely a lot of Great White Sharks near the Farallon islands. They hang around there to feast on the sea lions. I would have been MAJOR nervous about that. Perhaps the extent of the sharks was not as well known in 1967?

[sdogv]

Sea lion population was lower too in 1967, but nevertheless, we had three shark sightings during the swim, one definitely interested. Capt. Kinley apparently scared it away with 3 shots from a BIG pistol. I swa with crossed fingers..

[Sodnal]

You da man, sdogv! Sharks aside, that was a monumental swim. I lived in Calfornia during the early 1960's and remember how cold the water was near the Golden Gate Bridge. Throw in Great White Sharks and it was one for the ages. My hats off to you. By the way, a swimmer was killed by a Great White Shark just off Golden Gate Bridge the last year we were in California-1963.

[sdogv]

Amen. Actually, in 1966 my attempt failed after nearly 17 hours in water 51-54 F!! I went totally hypothermic. !967 was a breeze, water warmer.

[impresador]

I hope someone picked that cup out of the water

[ToolsnFire]

And how many hours was the swim?

[ToolsnFire]

what were you fed during the swim?

[ToolsnFire]

@sdogv was that because of so many seals having been killed by humans over the prior 200 years?

[Oceanswimmr]

Pre GPS!

Wow...45 min between feedings is a lot though. Wonder if they were heated???

[goatboyful]

it's a fine line between courage and crazy.....but jeez man! very impressive.

[sancholer]

I have spent much time at the farralon. I witnessed 2 shark attacks on sea lions. Even if i were in that great of shape I wouldnt do it ,what a wild man !

[mickoholland]

Some achievment, probally never be matched!

[aaronredcat]

i am leaving sharks out of it since it is sunch a debatable issue. a boat mass and therefore noise factor and since the chanell is not a feeding ground. oops i mentioned sharks. but all of that aside it is still a remarkable swim. temperature+distance is equal to or greater than endurance. in this case is was equal. and erikson pulled it off. i want to see someone do it without a scout or pacer next.