Six Indian swimmers ki ak team, jo khud ko “Dreams to Live – Channel Chasers” kahti hai, ne 9th September 2025 ko Catalina Channel ka single crossing successfully complete kiya. Team ne 32-kilometer (approx. 20 miles) ki tough swim sirf 13 hours 20 minutes me conquer kar li.
Team mein alag–alag backgrounds se aane wale log shamil the, jinhone apne unique skills aur experiences se is mission ko special banaya.
Dr. Guruprasad Bhat, jo Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences, Mangaluru ke medical oncologist hain, unhone apne personal challenges ko overcome karne ki dedication dikhayi.
Tanvi Deore, ek accomplished marathon swimmer, ne apni expertise add ki — unhone pehle 29th July 2024 ko 17 ghante mein 34 km ki solo English Channel swim complete ki thi.
Divya Hitendra Mahanjan, sirf 15 saal ki age mein, apne aap ko un sabse youngest Indians mein shamil kar liya jinhone Catalina Channel ka solo swim complete kiya.
Deepika Rana, ak helicopter pilot aur Haryana ki national-level swimmer, ne team mein apna competitive spirit aur aerial perspective laaye.
Rounak Siddaiah, Bangalore ke IT professional jo abhi San Francisco mein based hain, unhone team ko ek international reach di.
Aur finally, team ko round up kiya Deepak Bhosale ne, jo 63-year-old veteran swimmer hain Nashik se — unhone apne experience aur resilience se team ko strong banaya.
Team ko navigator Kevin Bell ne guide kiya jo charter vessel “Bottom Scratcher” par unke saath the, aur unhone ensure kiya ki swimmers pure tough swim ke dauran sahi course par bane rahein. Inki mehnat Srikanth Viswanathan ke coaching ne aur strong banaya, jo ak celebrated triple crowner hain (English Channel, Catalina Channel, aur Manhattan 20 Bridge swim) aur prestigious Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award bhi jeeta hai.
Dr. Bhat ne apni open-water swimming tak ki journey share ki- unhone bataya kaise unhone bachpan ke paani ke dar ko conquer kiya, jo ak near-drowning experience se aaya tha. Teen saal pahle unhone apne bete ke saath swimming classes join ki thi aur dheere-dheere coach Sanket Bengre ke guidance mein Arabian Sea tak venture karna start kiya.
Catalina Channel relay swim karne ka decision Dr. Bhat ke ak new challenge dhoondhne ki ichha se aaya, jab unhone Italy mein full Ironman triathlon complete kiya tha. Unhone explain kiya, “Meri swimming speed 3km/hour se upar nahi thi, isliye long solo marathon open water swims meri reach ke bahar the. Isi wajah se relay swimming hi wo thi jo main dhoondh raha tha.”
Aakhirkaar, team ne apna target Catalina Channel relay par set kiya, jiske pahle unhone English Channel relay attempt bhi kiya.
Relay swims strict regulations ke under hoti hain. Swimmers ko wetsuits pehnne ki permission nahi hoti aur unhe ek fixed swimming order follow karna padta hai, jisme har member ak-ak ghante ka shift leta hai. Agar koi apna turn miss kar de, toh poori attempt disqualify ho jaati hai. Catalina Channel relay ko Catalina Channel Swimming Federation oversee karti hai, jo ak night swim hoti hai aur apne unique challenges ke liye famous hai. Team ne George Young ke 1926 ke historic first crossing ke conditions ko replicate karne ki koshish ki.
Swim ki preparation mein rigorous cold water acclimatization shamil tha. Team ko 30th April tak kam se kam 1.5 se 2 ghante open water mein 16°C (approx. 61°F) ya usse kam temperature mein swim karna padta tha. Dr. Bhat ne apni shuruati struggles describe ki — unhe thande paani ki aadat dalne ke liye daily cold showers lene padte the aur weekly full immersion cold water mein karna padta tha. Stroke correction bhi ak major focus tha, jisme regular coaching consultations aur unki swimming technique ka video analysis hota tha.
Team ka English Channel relay attempt unfortunately Dover mein ak severe storm ki wajah se cancel ho gayi, jo open water swimming ki unpredictable nature ko clearly show karta hai.
Catalina Channel relay 9th September 2025 ko raat 11:23 pm par start hua. Dr. Bhat ne apna experience describe kiya ki kaise unhone complete darkness mein swim kiya, jaha unhe sirf kayaks par lagaye gaye glow sticks guide kar rahe the. Swim ke dauran bioluminescence ka mesmerizing spectacle tha aur full moon light ne raaste ko illuminate kiya. Morning relay ke time team ne crystal-clear water, underwater kelp forests, playful dolphins aur soaring seagulls ka bhi experience kiya.
Team ne relay ko 13 ghante 20 minutes mein complete kiya. Apni achievement ko commemorate karne ke liye, team members ne Catalina Island se pebbles souvenirs ke roop mein collect kiye. Dr. Bhat ne reflect karte hue kaha, “Is swim ne humme se jada logon ke andhere ka dar khatam karne mein help ki. Sahi guidance, teamwork aur determination ke saath, wildest aur darkest oceans ka crossing bhi end mein beautiful lagta hai.”
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