Support for Swimmers

The best time to attempt the Santa Barbara Channel crossing is between August and October when the water temperature is highest and there is little or no fog.

Boats, Pilots, Kayakers, Observers

Boats and pilots are the responsibility of the swimmer. SBCSA may make recommendations, however, the final decision will be that of the swimmer(s). Generally you will select a boat based on size and cost long before you arrive in Santa Barbara. You will need two boat captains because the round trip will be at least 10 hours and they need relief! The SBCSA will provide an observer and suggest names of volunteer kayakers.

View list of available boats for hire.

Crew

You must provide your own crew who have primary responsible for your motivation and feeding. They can access years of experience (see News and Stories) from the Association in the area of “in the water motivation” but all swimmers should have decided and perfected their feeding routines long before arrival.

Visitor Information and Resources

Santa Barbara is a premier vacation destination with a wealth of visitor information available on the web. One of our favorite sites is SantaBarbaraCarFree.org providing maps, information, links and discounts to local hotels, transportation, and activities - whether you come with a car or not.

The Franciscan Inn offers SBCSA members a 10% discount Friday-Saturday, 20% Sunday-Thursday. They are conveniently located one block from the beach and offer rooms with or without a kitchenette.