The Maui Channel Swim is the longest, open water relay swimming race in the world. It was started in 1972 and the competition was between the Waikiki Swim Club and the Olympic Club of San Francisco. Outrigger members competed on the WSC team until 1974 when the OCC entered its own team. The team included Ian Emberson, Harry Huffaker, Mike Spalding and Jim Caldwell. Huffaker was the OCC Team Captain and Caldwell was the race director. The race was won by the Dolphin Swim Club of San Francisco setting a new record of 3 hours and 36 minutes. In second place was the Waikiki Swim Club in 3 hours and 52 minutes, and in third place was the OCC in 3 hours and 58 minutes.
In 1976 The race was won by the Waikiki Swim Club in 3 hours 17 minutes (new record); Outrigger Canoe Club, finished second in 3:30; followed by the WSC “B”, third, 3:37; Los Angeles, 4th, and Toronto Tridents, 5th. The OCC team was James Dean, Ian Emberson, Harry Huffaker, Jim Caldwell, Brent Berk and Fred Haywood.
In 1977, OCC withdrew from the race after 30 minutes due to problems with its escort boat. Team members were Archie Hapai, Fred Heywood, Ian Emberson, Tom Davidson, Roger Cundall and Captain Jimmy Dean. The race was won by WSC 3:33. In 1979, OCC entered a women’s team which finished in third place.
After that, OCC did not enter a team, but individual members continued to compete.
The 9.5 mile channel swim starts at Club Lanai, a resort on the Island of Lanai, and crosses the Auau Channel to Black Rock at the Kaanapali Beach Resort on the island of Maui.
James Caldwell was the race director for the early races. OCC member Ian Emberson is now the race director and the swim has grown to more than 60 teams of six and dozens of solo swimmers.
The swim is one of the most popular masters swimming events in the nation. Teams come from all over the Mainland, as well as Australia, Japan, and Taiwan to compete. The relay race is timed and there are six swimmers per team. At the start of the race, each swimmer swims half-hour legs until all team members have raced. Then each swimmer swims a 10-minute leg until they cross the finish line. Every team has a dedicated escort boat. The swim is now scheduled on Labor Day weekend.
For more information on the Maui Channel Swim contact Race Director Ian Emberson at cocoemberson@hawaii.rr.com
These articles appeared in the Outrigger magazine about the Maui Channel Swim.
1972-09 Club Sponsors Lanai-Lahaina Relay Swim
1974-07 Swimmers Invited to Try Out for Maui Channel Swim
1974-10 Maui Channel Relay Swim
1976-08 Outrigger Enters 5th Annual Maui Channel Swim
1976-10 OCC Close in Maui Channel Swim
1977-10 Maui Channel Team Adrift
1978-08 OCC Enters 7th Annual Maui Channel Swim
1979-07 Swimmers Invited to Enter Maui Channel Swim
1987-11 Maui Channel Swim Relays