Nadandolibre · Steven Munatones · Tsugaru Channel Double-Crossing 48 km in 12 hr 52 min

Steven Munatones  Tusagaru Channel 1990·

After his great adventure in the Lake Biwa, Steven Munatones continued conquering successes in waters of Japan, He realize a double crossing of swimming in Tsugaru's Strait (Tsugaru's Channel).

 Steven began to swim from Honshu on the north coast of Japan up to coming to the Hokkaido's second great Japanese island and it manages to touch land in 6 hours and 16 minutes ... without two times thinking it Steven puts course again now in direction Hokkaido - Honshu and manages to cross it in 6 hours and 36 minutes. 

 This great adventure and this double crossing in Tsugaru's strait, continue remaining intact in the time from 1990 .. since Steven obtains 3 world records in the same crossing .. in a channel of big currents that Hokkaido de Honshu separates..

Tsugaru Channel

1 º Record time from Honshu to Hokkaido.

 2 º Record time without precedents from Hokkaido to Honshu.

 3 º Record of the dolbe crosses without precedents. Going and return in 12 hours and 52 minutes.

Jose Diaz · I have read that this crossing has been the hardest of all what you have done alone, can you explain why?

Steven · It was difficult because the currents were strong.  It was also difficult because no one had completed this channel before.  David Yudovin actually completed the channel a week before me in the Honshu-to-Hokkaido direction, but I was the first to swim from the Hokkaido-to-Honshu direction.  I was not planning to do a two-way crossing, but when David completed the channel before me, I decided to do something unique.  So I was training for a one-way crossing, but only a few days before, I decided to do a two-way crossing.  Because we had not thoroughly prepared for the two-way crossing, it was a little stressful.  But I was able to swim one way in 6 hours and 16 minutes and the other way in 6 hours and 36 minutes, so it all turned out well.  And, I had to stop for 12 minutes in the middle of the second crossing because of a large tanker.

Jose Diaz · How does it feel to have three world records in the Tsugaru channel that have not been beaten by any swimmer since 1990?

Steven · The records are not important to me.  The most important thing is to have set a goal and then achieved my goal.  However, I was young and training very hard for these swims, so the times are pretty good.  No one else has done the swims under 10 hours, so I am looking forward to seeing how fast someone like Penny Palfrey or young swimmers like Mallory Mead can do.  Of course, every swim is different, so times are not as important as finishing a channel swim.

Jose Diaz · Can you tell us a little story the aquatic adventure that lived in the Tsugaru Channel?

Steven · There are many squid that live in the Tsugaru Channel.  When the pilot shines a light on the water, you can see thousands of squid under the water.  The water was a bit rough, but I liked that.  We swam on a near full moon, so swimming at night was beautiful.  I finished the swim and the local Miss Aomori (the local prefecture) met me at the finish and I received congratulatory messages from many important people in Japàn.  

Jose Diaz · Any anecdote during the great crossing?

Steven · Swim fast.  Every swimmer will be carried by the strong currents.  If you can handle the rough water, you will finish.  Just put your head down and swim.  Start at Tappi Misaki and know that you will be carried many kilometers to the east.  Where you land is entirely dependent on the currents.  But I think the swim is much easier than the English Channel, Cook Strait, Molokai Channel and Catalina Channel. 

Jose Diaz · What temperature did you swim in Tsugaru?

Steven · It was about 17-18°C.

Jose Diaz · What basic tips would you give to future swimmers who want to make this marathon swimming in the Tsugaru Channel?

Steven · Find someone local who can help you – or ask for my help!

You can read mas information on this crossing in this interview in The Diary of open waters.

   ·Steven Munatones  Tusagaru Channel 1990·