Hank Wise

From Openwaterpedia
Ben Brewer, Dylan Jones, Brandon Samaniego, and Hank Wise before starting the 18.2 km 10 Miles = 100 Waves event that took them 5 hours 1 minute from Newport Beach to Huntington Beach to Bolsa Chica to Sunset Beach on 25 July 2026
Post-Catalina Channel Hank Wise
48-year-old Hank Wise from Huntington Beach, California with 3 Top 10 crossings and 8 career crossings in the Catalina Channel. Photo by Peter Knapp on 5 November 2016.
Hank Wise's Catalina Channel 7th career crossing in 2018 was nominated for the 2018 World Open Water Swimming Performance of the Year by the World Open Water Swimming Association
Team Poseidon and Team Neptune on 21 September 2019 before crossing the 32.3 km Catalina Channel, coached by Hank Wise
Hank Wise, Head Coach of Swim Focus and Rocket Fish
Hank Wise, nicknamed the Catalinator and Dolphin Boy, clearing the water on the California mainland after a Catalina Channel crossing
Swim Long Beach Catalina Channel Tandem Relay with Dylan Jones, Mike Hall, Sam Simmons, Bob Hagle, Jeff LeBauve, Steven Johnson, Megan Jones, Alan Gobron, Loren Wright, Adam Luco, Tony Gale, and Bennett Moxom with coaches Hank Wise and Katie Rowe, and escort kayakers Gerry Parker, Will Diaz, and Steve Sanchez

Hank Wise (born December 1967) is a 58-year-old American pool and open water swimmer, waterman, surfer, coach, and reigning co-King of the Catalina Channel from Long Beach, California, U.S.A. with 9 career crossings. He sails, dives, paddles, kayaks, rows, body surfs and teaches in and about the waterways of Naples Island. He is married to celebrated artist Kristin Moro.

Open Water Swimming Highlights

Catalina Channel Crossings

1. On 2010 Oct 3, he crossed the 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 8 hours 7 minutes 3 seconds at the age of 42.
2. On 16 June 2015, he crossed the 32.3 km Catalina Channel from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Santa Catalina Island in 8 hours 7 minutes 37 seconds at the age of 47.
3. On 25 October 2015, he crossed the 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 10 hours 56 minutes 44 seconds at the age of 47.
4. On 6 November 2016, he crossed the 32.3 km Catalina Channel fromSanta Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 8 hours 20 minutes 10 seconds at the age of 48.
5. On 27 October 2017, he crossed the 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 10 hours 14 minutes 0 seconds at the age of 49.
6. On 11 November 2017, he crossed the 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 10 hours 1 minute 52 seconds at the age of 49.
7. On 15 October 2018, he crossed the 32.3 km Catalina Channel from Santa Catalina Island to the Palos Verdes Peninsula in 7 hours 55 minutes 6 seconds at the age of 50.
8. On 16 September 2025, he crossed the 32.3 km Catalina Channel from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Santa Catalina Island on Arrow Point in 8 hours 7 minutes 53 seconds at the age of 57 with escort pilot Max Jolly, Konrad Mayer, observers Dan Simonelli and Jeff Rake, and escort kayaker Sean Lieppman.
9. On 23 August 2026, he completed his 9th career 32.3 km Catalina Channel crossing in 9 hours 38 minutes 35 seconds from Arrow Point on Catalina Island to Terranea Beach on Palos Verdes Peninsula with the escort of crew chief Brennan Rose, escort kayakers Sean Lieppman and Adam Luco with observers Jeff Rake and Miles Duncan at the age of 58.

Fastest Catalina Channel Crossings in History

1. 7 hours 15 minutes 55 seconds by Penny Lee Dean, USA, MC in September 1976
2. 7 hours 27 minutes 25 seconds by Grace van der Byl, USA, CM in October 2012
3. 7 hours 37 minutes 31 seconds by Pete Huisveld, USA, MC in August 1992
4. 7 hours 41 minutes 14 seconds by John York, USA, MC in September 1978 (first leg of a two-way crossing)
5. 7 hours 43 minutes 6 seconds by Karen Burton, USA, CM in October 1994
6. 7 hours 55 minutes 6 seconds by Hank Wise, USA, CM in October 2018
7. 7 hours 57 minutes 40 seconds by Andreas Waschburger, Germany, CM in August 2024
8. 8 hours 4 minutes 12 seconds by Ceinwen Roberts, Australia, CM in September 2013
9. 8 hours 5 minutes 44 seconds by Todd Robinson, USA, CM in August 2009
10. 8 hours 7 minutes 3 seconds by Hank Wise, USA, CM in October 2010
11. 8 hours 7 minutes 37 by Hank Wise, USA, MC in June 2015
12. 8 hours 7 minutes 53 seconds by Hank Wise, USA MC in September 2025
13. 8 hours 9 minutes 0 seconds by Susan McKay, Canada, CM in September 2022
14. 8 hours 11 minutes 13 seconds by Miquel Suñer Comalat, Spain, CM in July 2012
15. 8 hours 14 minutes 46 seconds by Chad Hundeby, USA, CM in September 1993
16. 8 hours 18 minutes 27 seconds by Blair Cannon, USA, CM in August 2011
17. 8 hours 19 minutes 30 seconds by Danielle Wahl, USA, CM in June 2014
18. 8 hours 20 minutes 48 seconds by Gemma Jensen, Australia, CM in August 2006
19. 8 hours 27 minutes 24 seconds by Jim McConica, USA, CM in September 1983
20. 8 hours 28 minutes 21 seconds by Rendy Lynn Opdycke, USA, CM in August 2008
21. 8 hours 31 minutes 20 seconds by John York, USA, MC in October 1977
22. 8 hours 32 minutes 49 seconds by John York, USA, CM in October 2000
23. 8 hours 33 minutes 18 seconds by Andrea Karge, USA, CM in September 2001
24. 8 hours 33 minutes 59 minutes by Penny Lee Dean, USA, CM in September 1977 (first leg of a two-way crossing)
25. 8 hours 35 minutes 44 seconds by Derrick Wong, USA, CM in September 2011
26. 8 hours 35 minutes 44 seconds by Anna DeLozier, USA, CM in August 2006
27. 8 hours 36 minutes 32 minutes by Mallory Mead, USA, CM in August 2010
28. 8 hours 38 minutes 19 seconds by Anshuman Jhingran, India, CM in August 2023
29. 8 hours 42 minutes 57 seconds by Heather Royer, USA, CM in October 1998
30. 8 hours 43 minutes 16 seconds by Mary Beth Colpo, USA, CM in August 1977

Hank Wise In Catalina




Team Poseidon and Team Neptune

Wise coached Team Poseidon and Team Neptune on 20-21 September 2019 on a successful crossing of the 32.3 km Catalina Channel in a time of 9 hours 54 minutes and 9 hours 55 minutes.

WOWSA Live Interview


with Hank Wise, Lyle Nalli, Ted Bramble and Benjamin Landis after setting the Catalina Channel relay course record in 6 hours 53 minutes.

External links

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