Hank Wise, the man with the apt nickname the “Catalinator,” completed a round-trip swim across the Catalina Channel last month — his ninth time doing so.
Wise finished the approximately 20-mile trip from the Palos Verdes Peninsula to Catalina Island’s Arrow Point and back on Aug. 21, trying him with Samuel Neri as the only people with nine channel swims under their belts.
Wise is still considered as “king of the Catalina Channel,” since half of his completed swims are also among the 10 fastest all time — including his most recent trip. He also holds the fastest swim — 7 hours, 55 minutes and 6 seconds — which he set on Oct. 14, 2018.
Wise’s most-recent crossing took 9 hours and 38 minutes.
“These moments will take grit and perseverance,” Wise said in a social media post. “It’s during these moments of gratitude and grit, I remember my supportive family and local and distant friends, my teammates, my youthful swimmers and their parents, and swim community and the whole aquatic village we have here in the greater Long Beach area.”
Paddle for KJ
The fifth annual paddle in honor of Kobe Jackson (also known as “KJ”), who died in his sleep in 2021, took place on Saturday, Aug. 29.
The paddle went from Avalon to Long Beach, said Spencer Allen, who is among of a group of former Wilson High water polo players, and current and former Long Beach lifeguards who have continued the tradition in honor of their friend.
The fifth annual paddle in honor of Kobe Jackson, from Avalon to Long Beach, took place on Saturday, Aug. 29. Jackson, also known as KJ, was a former Wilson High swimmer and water polo player who died in 2021 at 22 years old. (Courtesy photo by Brennan Taylor)
The fifth annual paddle in honor of Kobe Jackson, from Avalon to Long Beach, took place on Saturday, Aug. 29. Jackson, also known as KJ, was a former Wilson High swimmer and water polo player who died in 2021 at 22 years old. (Courtesy photo by Brennan Taylor)
The fifth annual paddle in honor of Kobe Jackson, from Avalon to Long Beach, took place on Saturday, Aug. 29. Jackson, also known as KJ, was a former Wilson High swimmer and water polo player who died in 2021 at 22 years old. (Courtesy photo by Brennan Taylor)
The fifth annual paddle in honor of Kobe Jackson, from Avalon to Long Beach, took place on Saturday, Aug. 29. Jackson, also known as KJ, was a former Wilson High swimmer and water polo player who died in 2021 at 22 years old. (Courtesy photo by Brennan Taylor)
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The fifth annual paddle in honor of Kobe Jackson, from Avalon to Long Beach, took place on Saturday, Aug. 29. Jackson, also known as KJ, was a former Wilson High swimmer and water polo player who died in 2021 at 22 years old. (Courtesy photo by Brennan Taylor)
“We had really good conditions throughout the entire crossing,” Allen wrote in a message. “This year, everybody came in together and paddled as a group from Avalon to the Ballast Point dock in Alamitos Bay.”
There were 28 people who participated in the eight-hour crossing, Allen said, while the rest of the supporters welcomed the teams at the finish line. There were seven relay teams, seven boards in the water during the crossing and a couple of more teams joined them at the break wall to finish together. The teams ranged from two paddlers to five.
Jackson was a former swimmer and water polo player for Wilson High, having graduated in 2017. He also played water polo for Long Beach City College. He died in 2021 at 22 years old.
“Five years of showing up for KJ,” Kobe Jackson’s family posted on social media. “Thank you to the boat crews, everyone who donated, everyone who came out to cheer them on, and every person who helped behind the scenes. Seeing this community continue to show up for Kobe and carry his legacy forward means more to his family than you will ever know. 32 miles. 5 years. One incredible reason.”
Labor Day Regatta
The 42nd Annual Labor Day Regatta from Long Beach to Dana Point will take place on Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 5-6.
Seven boats are currently registered to compete in the regatta, which is hosted by Shoreline Yacht Club, Dana Point Yacht Club and Dana West Yacht Club.
Contact race coordinator Owen Provence at 714-655-7682 for more details.
Boat auction
The Marine Boat Auction, hosted by the Long Beach Marine Bureau, will take place later this month.
The auction is scheduled for Sept. 12 outside the marina office, 205 Marina Drive, with viewing starting at 8 a.m. and bidding beginning at 9 a.m. The bureau will accept cash, credit cards or cashier checks.
After a boat is purchased, it cannot return to any Long Beach Marina for six months.
For more information about the auction, call 562-570-3215.
Old Timers Luncheon
The Southern California Yachting Association will hold its annual Old Timers board and general membership meetings on Sept. 12 at Cabrillo Beach Yacht Club, 211 W 22nd St., in San Pedro.
The Old Timers board meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m., followed by a luncheon at noon. The general membership meeting will begin 12:30 p.m.
The SCYA Old Timers Luncheon brings together member clubs to recognize the service of, share stories about and celebrate the people who have helped strengthen the boating community. Awards will be presented to the yacht club with the most staff commodores present, as well as to the one with the highest percentage of living staff commodores present. Old Salt awards will go to individuals with 50 or more years of consistent boating experience.
For more information, go to scya.org/event/2026-scya-old-timers-meeting.
All Hands
The Navy Yacht Club Long Beach will host its All-Hands Regatta on Sept. 12 — with an affordable entry fee of $20.
This race is open to members of all SCYA-recognized clubs or sailing associations, and any one-design fleet that establishes a class. All participating yachts must comply with current U.S. Coast Guard regulations. The registration deadline is Sept. 10.
Following the race, burgers and hot dogs will be served.
Town Hall
The Long Beach Marina Boat Owners Association will host a town hall on Oct. 22 at Seal Beach Yacht Club, 255 N Marina Drive.
Anne Eubanks, the president of the nonprofit advocacy organization Recreational Boaters of California will provide an update on recent efforts to protect boat owners’ rights.
Also on the agenda that evening will be a question-and-answer session with Marine Bureau Manager Todd Leland and Bryan Plante, superintendent of marina operations.
The BOA is encouraging all Long Beach Marina slip holders to attend the free event. Formal presentations will start at 7 p.m.. Starting at 5 p.m., Seal Beach Yacht Club volunteers will have hamburgers and cheeseburgers for sale for $12, including coleslaw, chips and dessert.
For more information, go to lbmboa.org.