When the Pacific Ocean is your front yard, ocean swimming is a very natural event. Some members swim for recreation and others like to compete in organized competitive roughwater or ocean swims. The Outrigger Canoe Club Invitational Open Ocean Swim is one of these competitive events as is the Castle Swim on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.
Roughwater swims are very popular in Hawaii with the additions of the North Shore Swim Series which takes place during the early summer at beaches on the North Shore. The biggest swim of them all though is the Waikiki Roughwater Swim on Labor Day. Another favorite is the Possibly Annual Hawaiian Christmas Looong Distance Invitational Rough-H20 Swim, also known as the Double Roughwater directed by OCC member Jim Anderson.
The perpetual trophy for the Roughwater Swim is named for OCC Founder Alexander Hume Ford. It was donated by Ellen Fullard-Leo, Hawaii’s representative to the U.S. Olympic Committee from its founding, who considered Ford her life-long friend.
Many members compete in the North Shore series as well as open ocean swims. Their results may be found in articles below or in the For the Record.
Waikiki Roughwater Swim Results
1987-08 Roughwater Swim on Labor Day
1987-11 Roughwater Swim Results
1988-05 1988 Summer Swim Calendar
1988-08 Distance Swim Events Scheduled
1988-10 19th Roughwater Swim Almost Wasnt
1990-10 Waikiki Roughwater Swim
2008-09- Waimea Bay Swim, Chuns Reef Swim
2013-11 An Ode to the Waikiki Roughwater Swim
1971-07 OCC Co Sponsors Second Annual Rough Watetr Swim
1976-10 Summery Summer Swimming Summary
1977-05 The Swim Scene for 1977
1977-10 roughwater Swim was Rough (2)
1978-05 Bigger Season Planned for Distance Roughwater Swimming
1978-05 Get in the Swim for 78
1978-06 Summer Swim Schedule (2)
1978-07 Plans Shaping Up for 78 Roughwater Swim
1978-10 the 78 Roughwater Swim
1979-08 63 Finish Rough Water Swim
1979-10 Roughwater Swim Was Plenty Rough (2)
1982-11 Waikiki Roughwater Swim
1982-12 Its a Loooong Swim (2)
1982-12 OCC Finishers Roughwater Swim
1983-03 Looong Rough Water Swim
1983-11 Christmas Looong Distance Swim
1984-02 The Over the Hill Gang
1984-10 Smooth Roughwater Swim
1985-08 Roughwater Swim Almost Too Rough