Santa Cruz, Calif- You probably haven't seen too many people swimming in the bay, especially without a wetsuit. But Thursday Bruckner Chase, set out to swim more than 21 miles across the Monterey Bay, wearing only a swimsuit, and a cap and goggles.
"Monterey Bay is like the P2 of mountaineering it's the peak that's only been crossed or scaled once. I cut my teeth on open water swimming Monterey Bay," said Bruckner Chase.
Before sunrise, Chase slid into the freezing water. He started his swim from Main Beach in Santa Cruz, with his eye on Lovers Point in Pacific Grove, "It's pretty much you against the elements and even though it's a solo swim I had an amazing crew," said Chase. His support system included three paddlers that took shifts in the water next to Chase and his wife Michelle who was cheering him on from the boat ahead.
But four hours into his pilgrimage Chase hit a major speed bump, jellyfish, "We were swimming through schools of them for about two and a half hours. I got stung so many times I couldn't even begin to count," said Chase. After nearly six and a half hours, he had to stop, "By the time I got out I was probably a few steps away from being really hypothermic," said Chase.
Chase swam more than 12 miles Thursday and says he's not giving up his dream of completing the swim across Monterey Bay, "I really want another shot at this. It is very much like mountain climbing, you plan. You train for it and sometimes conditions just don't go your way. The idea is to come back alive and sometimes you just have to role with that," said Chase.
Just a reminder the Coast Guard does not encourage people to try to swim across the bay. Bruckner Chase is a professional swimmer, and the Coast Guard must be notified before anyone attempts a major swim like Thursdays.
