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San Nicolas Island
San Nicolas Island, one of the Channel Islands, is 61.2 miles (53.2 nm or 98.4 km) to Laguna Point, or 69.3 miles (111.5 km) to Point Vicente on the California coast.
San Nicolas Island is the most remote of California's Channel Islands. The uninhabited island is currently military-owned and controlled by the United States Navy and is used as a weapons testing and training facility.
The Nicoleño Native American tribe inhabited the island until 1835. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the island has since remained officially uninhabited, though the census estimates that at least 200 military and civilian personnel live on the island at any given time. The island has a small airport and several buildings, including telemetry reception antennas.
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History[edit]
San Nicolas was originally the home of the Nicoleño people, who were probably related to the Tongva of the mainland and Santa Catalina Island. It was named for Saint Nicholas by Spanish explorer Sebastián Vizcaíno after he sighted the island on the saint's feast day (6 December 1602). The Nicoleños were evacuated in the early 19th century by the padres of the California mission system. Within a few years of their removal from the island, the Nicoleño people and their unique language became extinct.
Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island[edit]
The most famous resident of San Nicolas Island was the "Lone Woman of San Nicolas Island", christened Juana Maria; her birth name was never known to anyone on the mainland. She was left behind when the rest of the Nicoleños were moved to the mainland. She resided on the island alone for 18 years before she was found by Captain George Nidever and his crew in 1853 and brought back to Santa Barbara. She died seven weeks later. Her story was the basis for Scott O'Dell's Newbery Medal-winning 1960 novel Island of the Blue Dolphins.
Marathon Swimming[edit]
A swim from San Nicolas Island to the California coast has never been attempted. Anthony McCarley attempted a swim of 28 miles (45.1 km) from San Nicolas Island to Santa Barbara Island on 30 September 2015. The Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association (SBCSA) supported and sanctioned open water swims in this channel and the other 7 of the 8 Channel Islands.
The Deep Enders including Jim McConica, Tom Ball, John Chung, Zach Jirkovsky, Tamie Stewart, and Stacey Warmuth swam from San Nicholas Island in the California Channel Islands to Point Vicente on the California mainland, a distance is 70.1 miles (112.8 km) under the auspices of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association on 12 October 2015 in 33 hours 37 minutes.
Ventura Deep Enders from San Nicholas Island to San Pedro[edit]
Courtesy of Lynn Kubasek of the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association
The Deep Enders relay swam from San Nicolas Island to San Pedro, California on 12-13 October 2015 on an unprecedented 112.8 km crossing of 33 hours 37 minutes 26 seconds. Coached by Theo Schmeeckle, the team comprised of Zach Jirkovsky, Jim McConica, John Chung, Stacey Warmuth, Tom Ball and Tamie Stewart. Escort kayakers and support crew included Allen Ball, Jill Ball, Bob Howell, Patty Howell, Pam Jirkowsky and Carol Lacy. The Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association observers were Lynn Kubasek and Jax Cole. The swim was guided by Bottom Scratcher with captain Greg Elliott, Craig and Danny.
Julian Rusinek Scholarship[edit]
The Julian Rusinek Scholarship, funded by American open water swimmer Julian Rusinek, helps underwrite the costs of channel swim attempts by deserving American marathon swimmers across and between the San Miguel Island, Santa Rosa Island, Santa Cruz Island, Anacapa Island, San Nicolas Island, Santa Barbara Island, and San Clemente Island.
Video[edit]
External links[edit]
- Remembering Lynn Kubasek with Her Legacy in the California Channel Islands
- Swim From The Island of the Blue Dolphins
- Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association
- The Lone Woman Of San Nicolas Island
- Generosity From Julian, Swimming In Santa Barbara
- Anthony McCarley's Unprecedented Swim In The Pacific
- Round One Goes To Mother Nature
- First Attempt Stopped Short, But Future Possibilities Seen
- The Deep Enders Heading Towards The California Coast
- The Deep Enders Are Heading Towards Shallow Waters
- 33 Hours 37 Minutes From The Island Of Blue Dolphins
- Going Off With The Deep Enders
- The Legacy Of Emilio Casanueva
