The idea to attempt the Alcatraz swim started one morning innocently when an invitation arrived in the post to a friend’s wedding in San Francisco.  I have never visited San Francisco city with its famous Golden Gate Bridge, harbor, hilly streets, and history. While I visited the city I wanted to explore and see as much as I could.  Being a lifelong lover of fitness, outdoors activities always stand front and center of any plans so, I began searching for activities while I was in San Francisco.  A bucket list items has been the Alcatraz triathlon.  Sadly, my visit dates did not coincide with the triathlon event but I came across the Alcatraz swim-to-shore with Water World and my interest were immediately peaked.  Without hesitation I signed up.  The event was a 2-mile swim.  The ferry takes you from Fisherman’s Wharf out to 100ft off Alcatraz Island.  The swim is from this point, off from the Alcatraz island to Aquatic park beaches.   

As the months counted down, I began researching the San Francisco Bay waters, currents, temperatures and what other people had said about the swim.  I also began training at my local swimming pool to get myself ready for the 2-mile swim.  As I began to researching, I came across the famous Escape from Alcatraz of three prisoners, Frank Morris, John and brother Clarence Anglin in 1962 who braved the fridged waters of San Francisco bay escaping Alcatraz prison, never to be found again.  I started to think that perhaps I had not sufficiently thought this whole event through. 

For reference my background in swimming up to that point consisted of swimming pools, lakes and reservoirs, mostly for triathlons.  The only “seaworthy” experience I had was growing up in England.  My grandparents and parents would take us to Porthcawl, South Wales or Western-Super-Mare, North Sommerset beaches in the summer for the day.   These bodies of cold, brown, rough water were part of the Bristol Channel.  My grandfather, Rees Phillips, would take us to a beach rock pool as the tides were either going out or coming in and talk us through how the tide feels, pulling and pushing, with the current and how to swim or escape safely from currents. Setting fear aside, I went ahead with the top recommended tips to prepare for the swim.

• Rent a thick, 5mm full-length wetsuit (average temps of SF bay are 46 – 51 degrees) – completed
• Double layered (two) swim caps (alternative a neoprene cap) – completed
• Goggles that fit well and defogging spray - completed
• Ability to swim 2 plus miles.  Put in the training laps at the pool - completed
• Expect cross tides (from both direction) – mental note
• Sight often due to cross tides, to make sure you are not way off course – mental note
• Enjoy to journey – mental note

The morning after my friend’s wedding, I took a taxi to the start line where the swimmer met up and went through the brief instructions; what to sight on the shore, note the cross tides when sighting, lots of safety kayaker to keep you on course if you needed them to hold onto and rest, or to pull you out of the water.  After the briefing we all walked over the ferry and piled into its cavernous interior.  As the ferry took us to our destination about 100ft from Alcatraz, I could see the nerves, fears and excitement on strangers faces as we stood in silence.  At this point it was not clear to me we were actually going to jump off the side of the ferry.  At the time this seemed very high above the water.  An unexpected wrinkle.  So, I stepped to the back of the line and watched as the other swimmers jumped.  Watching for tips and tricks as other swimmer jumped into the water.  Listening for the splash and any happy or surprised vocalizations as they entered the water. The first thing I quickly learned by watching, was to keep a firm hand on your goggles for fear of losing them as you hit the water.  The second, as I did hit the water; I realized just how extremely the cold of the water of San Francisco Bay feels as you plunge below the surface (that day it was 51 degrees).  The third, was the high salt content of the water.  As I attempted to swim in my wetsuit, I was so buoyant my feet could hardly stay in low enough in the water to kick effectively.  Obviously, I had not prepared nearly enough for this swim!  Slowly, I got into a rhythm focusing on my stroke and working with the waves (it was fairly choppy).  As I headed through the water shore bound, I started to settle down and breath.  Much like any triathlon, the first 100-200 meters of the swim is frantic, breathtaking and you generally swallow a considerable amount of water until you get into a rhythm.  My final observation came as I was sighting.  At one point I was so far off course right, I was a little perplexed.  Despite being told about the cross tides in San Francisco Bay, I had no idea they were that strong.  At first, I tried course correcting until I realized only 300 meters later that I was now far off course in the opposite (left) direction.  My brain finally engaged, as I was sighting, I stopped course correcting so dramatically,  letting myself continue to swim forward and the cross tides move me left and right.  The hope being as I got nearer to the finish, things even out, and I would be approximately on target.  Sure, enough without over course correcting, I began heading (roughly) in the right direction of the shore. 

Things were going smoothly, I could start to see the bright festive sign of the Ghirardelli factory getting closer and closer, gleaming, and welcoming me into the harbor.  I knew I was going to make it.  As I reached the beach and stood up, I was so elated I did not realize that my hands and feet were so cold they were not operating normally.  Instead of the triumphant run to the finish line on the beach, I ended up hobbling awkwardly to stumble across the finish line, but I made it.  Note to self, next time wear neoprene booties and gloves!

The Alcatraz swim was truly an amazing experience.  I would recommend anyone with good swimming abilities and a love of challenges to give it a try.