Intent

1. Sanction the swimmers who want to attempt Channel crossings and other marathon swimming adventures in the Santa Barbara Channel region, and recognize them in the category in which they choose to participate.
2. Sanction our members' marathon swims in other areas where there is no official sanctioning body.
3. Foster and help candidates who want to become marathon swimmers by offering swim practices and opportunities to participate in longer swims.
4. Recruit pilots, observers and kayakers to help in the carrying out of the tasks necessary to "sanction" a swim.
5. Furnish information, advice and sanction only those swimmers with a proven history of marathon swimming that have a proper plan. To all  those interested in attempting the  crossing that do not have a history of marathon swimming, the Association will share with them a prescribed swimming practice that will enable them to get prepared.
6. Gather and preserve the historical channel crossing data.
7. Celebrate! We will hold a yearly banquet to honor those who successfully did the crossing their family and friends. Most important, all attempts that did not result in a full crossing, at this time, are also welcome to attend with their family and friends.
8. Promote activities to benefit the ocean. Since 2004, we have sponsored an annual relay swim across the SB Channel to raise funds for local ocean-caring non-profit organizations. Each year, approximately 100 swimmers, kayakers and volunteers participate, collecting $25,000 to $28,000. 100% of the proceeds go to the chosen beneficiary. See Channel Relay Swim.

For more information about the SBCSA, see our 2007 Annual Report.

Marathon swimmers are a rare and special breed.

• If we take the English Channel Crossing and compare it to another great physical challenge on earth such as climbing Mount Everest 1500 people have done the ascent while only 900 people have crossed the channel, some twice and some 3 times totaling 45 hours in the water.
• The spreading with grease, oil or lard does not help to insulate one from the cold, its main purpose is to prevent friction burns. Now better products are available.
• The first man to swim the English channel was Capt. Mathew Webb and it took him 21 hours and 45 minutes on August 24th , 1875 "Nothing great is easy" reads in the inscription in his monument.
• Gertrude Ederle an American citizen was the first woman to cross the English Channel in 1926.
• In 1981 John Erikson did a three way crossing of the English Channel.
• Allison Streeter, the "Channel Queen" did a 3-way crossing of the English Channel in 33 hours.