05/13/2024
Amy, congratulations on an extraordinary feat of endurance and determination! It was an absolute honor to be a part of this!
🚨🚨🚨 A few minutes ago Amy Appelhans Gubser of Pacifica, California became just the sixth solo swimmer to cross the notorious Gulf of the Farallones, off the coast of San Francisco - and the FIRST to swim in the outbound direction.
The Farallon swim has a reasonable claim to be the toughest marathon swim in the world - with typically cold, rough water, ripping winds, swirling currents, and “interesting” marine life.
Immersing under the Golden Gate Bridge at 3:25am local time, Amy rode a ripping ebb tide about 1/3 of the way to the island in just 4 hours; she then gutted out the remaining distance in 13 hours to finish at Fisherman Bay, SE Farallon Island in the waning daylight. Total straight-line distance of 29.7 miles (47.8km) in a bit over 17 hours (specifics to be posted when available).
Amy’s swim was supported by John Chapman, Abby Fairman, Kirk McKinney, Ken Mignosa, Sarah Roberts, and John Sims, and piloted by Capt. Chad Dahlberg on the Pacific Rival. Amy encountered water temps ranging from 43F (6.1C) to 57F (13.8C).
Congratulations Amy on this astonishing, world-class feat of cold-water endurance and athleticism.
longswims.com/p/amy-appelhans-gubser
longswims.com/events/farallon-islands/