On Sunday, 23 swimmers took part in the annual Semana Nautica 6-mile swim. The course ran from Goleta to Arroyo Burro Beach, which always includes many natural obstacles. This year the swimmers had to endure strong currents and giant kelp beds, slowing their times. Despite not having any first place times, many locals finished the race right behind the winners.
With a time of 2 hours, 21 minutes and 48 seconds, Brian Wadley won the men’s and overall title. He and Ed Smith, a Santa Barbara local, were head-to-head at the final turn. Smith decided to swim around a kelp bed while Wadley risked swimming through it, which put him out on top. Ed Smith finished just behind Wadley with a time of 2:22:52. In third was Forest Nelson who finished the face in 2:23:04.
Finishing first for the women, with almost no one around her, was Jen Schumacher in 2.29:17. This was her second consecutive Semana Nautica 6-mile victory. Cindy Braden, out of Santa Barbara, swam the course in 2:38:47, coming in second place. Following her was Karah Nozar with a third place time of 2:41:45.
The women’s 4th and 5th place time went to two locals, Karen Schults (2:42:16) and Hannah Christman (2:51:42).
