Aquatic Capital is participating for the 4th year in Long Beach Gives, a one day online fundraising campaign on Thursday, September 22, for over 220 local nonprofit organizations. For more information about our part in this campaign, see our Long Beach Gives page.
Please consider a donation of $5 or more (hopefully more😁) through our page, or through a page of one of our supporters as shown on the Aquatic Capital page. Thank you!
Long Beach Gives!
Condolences to the Family of Hall of Fame Coach Dick Jochums
We are deeply saddened to learn of the death on Friday of Aquatic Capital's Hall of Fame member Dick Jochums. We send our condolences to the Jochums family and we will continue to honor his legacy.
Click the link to read more about Dick's bio and legacy here: https://swimswam.com/hall-of-fame-swimming-coach-dick-jochums-dies-at-81/
Click the link to read more about Dick's bio and legacy here: https://swimswam.com/hall-of-fame-swimming-coach-dick-jochums-dies-at-81/
Naples Island Swim, with a Century of History, Returns to Long Beach August 21st!
Looking For Ways to Get Involved!
Looking for ways to get involved with the Long Beach Aquatic Community. Check out this article on local events and activites surrounding the city of Long Beach.
https://www.presstelegram.com/2022/07/21/on-the-water-summer-events-keep-shoreline-churning/
https://www.presstelegram.com/2022/07/21/on-the-water-summer-events-keep-shoreline-churning/
Thu, Jul 7, 2022
Long Beach Scores Top Marks for Water Quality
The City of Long Beach has received excellent recreational water quality grades from Heal the Bay for 2021-2022, with 100% percent of its beaches receiving A or B grades for the dry summer months, according to the Annual Beach Report Card that was released on June 22, 2022. Long Beach has seen sustained improvements in water quality over the past decade.
City beaches received 11 A grades and four Bs for the dry summer season, April through October. Alamitos Bay, located at Bayshore and the Second Street Bridge, received an A+ grade.
The State Health and Safety Code, known as AB 411, requires testing of recreational waters during this important time period when most people go to the beach and enjoy the water. Long Beach also received A or B grades for five beaches during the dry winter months.
City beaches received 11 A grades and four Bs for the dry summer season, April through October. Alamitos Bay, located at Bayshore and the Second Street Bridge, received an A+ grade.
The State Health and Safety Code, known as AB 411, requires testing of recreational waters during this important time period when most people go to the beach and enjoy the water. Long Beach also received A or B grades for five beaches during the dry winter months.
Girls’ Swim: Wilson Wins Moore League For First Time Since 2015
Wilson had won 15 of the last 16 league titles until Poly took five straight from 2016-21.Wilson had won 15 of the last 16 league titles until Poly took five straight from 2016-21.
Check out the full article write up on the 562.org: https://www.the562.org/2022/04/30/girls-swim-wilson-wins-moore-league-for-first-time-since-2015/
Check out the full article write up on the 562.org: https://www.the562.org/2022/04/30/girls-swim-wilson-wins-moore-league-for-first-time-since-2015/
CIF Girls' Water Polo Playoffs
CIF Girls' Water Polo: Lakewood Shuts Down Malibu In Second Round Victory
Check out the story recap here: https://www.the562.org/2022/02/11/cif-girls-water-polo-lakewood-shuts-down-malibu-in-second-round-victory/
Check out the story recap here: https://www.the562.org/2022/02/11/cif-girls-water-polo-lakewood-shuts-down-malibu-in-second-round-victory/
Girls’ Water Polo: Wilson Secures Another Moore League Title
The Wilson girls’ water polo team once again asserted its dominance in the Moore League on Wednesday by beating Millikan 19-6 and winning a fourth consecutive league title.
https://www.the562.org/2022/01/27/girls-water-polo-wilson-secures-another-moore-league-title/
https://www.the562.org/2022/01/27/girls-water-polo-wilson-secures-another-moore-league-title/
Long Beach Poly Water Polo 2021 CIF Story
Enjoy this recap video of the Long Beach Poly Boys Water Polo 2021 CIF Run.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=admGuGfyJjI&feature=youtu.be
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=admGuGfyJjI&feature=youtu.be
The Magic of Lenny Arkinstall
Aquatic Capital Board member Lenny Arkinstall was recently featured with an article in the Long Beach Beachcomber newpaper. Read about all the good Lenny does for our community, and how he came to have a pet chicken, Nugget.
https://beachcomber.news/content/magic-lenny-arkinstall
https://beachcomber.news/content/magic-lenny-arkinstall
Wise: Meditation in Motion
Hank Wise is the current record holder for the fastest swim across the Catalina Channel by a male. He also holds the record for the most successful crossings, 7...so far.
If conditions are favorable, he plans to swim the channel for the 8th time, and hopes to break the all-time record by swimmers of either gender.
Read more about Hank in the Long Beach Beachcomber article linked here:
https://beachcomber.news/content/wise-meditation-motion
If conditions are favorable, he plans to swim the channel for the 8th time, and hopes to break the all-time record by swimmers of either gender.
Read more about Hank in the Long Beach Beachcomber article linked here:
https://beachcomber.news/content/wise-meditation-motion
The Legend of Klaus Barth
Klaus was a 1968 Olympian from West Germany when he met Coach Don Gambril at the Mexico City Olympics. Coach Gambril recruited him and his best friend, Hans Fassnacht, another West German Olympian at the same Olympics, to come swim for Long Beach State. There Klaus met his wife, Shari.
This article by Rob Vazquez of the Beachcomber newpaper gives you just a flavor of Klaus, an inductee along with Hans Fassnacht into the Aquatic Capital's first edition of our Hall of Fame in 2016. There was so much more to Klaus and his impact on so many people than could be included in this short article.
https://beachcomber.news/content/legend-klaus-barth
This article by Rob Vazquez of the Beachcomber newpaper gives you just a flavor of Klaus, an inductee along with Hans Fassnacht into the Aquatic Capital's first edition of our Hall of Fame in 2016. There was so much more to Klaus and his impact on so many people than could be included in this short article.
https://beachcomber.news/content/legend-klaus-barth
World Drowning Prevention Day is July 25th
On April 28, 2021, the United Nations General Assembly approved World Drowning Prevention Day to be on July 25 each year, and strongly urges everyone to embrace the following water safety guidelines. One resolution is to “Promote drowning prevention public awareness and behavior-change campaigns” and this article supports this resolution.
We live in a High-Income country but drowning rates among lower income residents and those ages 1 to 15 are at the greatest risk. Action can be taken at a local level, and this is what can you do to reduce accidental death by drowning.
(1) Barriers. Make sure your swimming pool has a secure fence around it with a locked gate to make sure the young or a curious toddler doesn’t have access to the pool.
(2) Supervision. In the bathtub, swimming pool, beach, lake or river, Parents and Guardians must watch the young at all times and to ensure they stay within close range in the event help is needed.
(3) Swim skills. Learning survival swim skills at a young age has proven to be an effective method to reduce drowning. Basic swim skills with the ability to swim just 10-20 yards could be the difference between life and death. Swimming lessons at the YMCA, for example are highly recommended. The Aquatic Capital of America has a “Waterproof our Youth” program to provide these swim skills at no cost to for lower income residents. Go to their website and click on “contact us” for more information. Adults are also encouraged to learn swimming skills.
(4) Rescue and Resuscitation. This resolution asks all citizens to learn CPR, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. In an emergency, call 911 and become the first responder to provide rescue breaths and chest compressions before professional first responders arrive. Seconds matter! CPR skills provide the critical moments to save a life. See your local Red Cross for classes at www.redcross.org.
Aquatic Capital member Paul Dunning brings this good news to you as a world leader in drowning prevention by successfully achieving the key points of the United Nations Global Drowning Prevention resolution long ago. In 2006, Paul and John Pearce, both long-time Long Beach residents and lifeguards, founded Project Ecuador, an international lifeguard training program by the Long Beach Lifeguard Association targeting Ecuador’s most dangerous beaches with the highest incidence of drowning.
Over the next 5 years, the training programs expanded to all coastal regions targeting 20 beaches and they trained and provided rescue equipment and uniforms to over 150 Ecuadorians through successful donation campaigns, of which over 70% were from Long Beach citizens.
Paul and John met with key government leaders and promoted Project Safe Beaches, a National Water Safety Plan emphasizing the need for professional lifeguards. In October 2011, Ecuador’s Government created legislation supporting professional lifeguards and invested $400,000 to support the cause. Lifeguards in Ecuador are thriving and have proven themselves to be the best in Latin America. Project Ecuador changed public policy, and drowning rates fell an astonishing 31%.
Project Ecuador received the Sustainable Development Award by Sister Cities International in 2012. Also in 2012, Paul Dunning was appointed Director US Aid by the International Life Saving Federation – Americas Region, continuing the global effort to reduce drowning in several countries.
Drowning is preventable and you can be part of the solution.
Thanks for the information is this article goes to:
Paul Dunning
Founder, Project Ecuador
Director US Aid. International Life Saving Federation-Americas Region 2012 – 2019
Member, Long Beach Lifeguards Alumni
Member, Aquatic Capital of America
We live in a High-Income country but drowning rates among lower income residents and those ages 1 to 15 are at the greatest risk. Action can be taken at a local level, and this is what can you do to reduce accidental death by drowning.
(1) Barriers. Make sure your swimming pool has a secure fence around it with a locked gate to make sure the young or a curious toddler doesn’t have access to the pool.
(2) Supervision. In the bathtub, swimming pool, beach, lake or river, Parents and Guardians must watch the young at all times and to ensure they stay within close range in the event help is needed.
(3) Swim skills. Learning survival swim skills at a young age has proven to be an effective method to reduce drowning. Basic swim skills with the ability to swim just 10-20 yards could be the difference between life and death. Swimming lessons at the YMCA, for example are highly recommended. The Aquatic Capital of America has a “Waterproof our Youth” program to provide these swim skills at no cost to for lower income residents. Go to their website and click on “contact us” for more information. Adults are also encouraged to learn swimming skills.
(4) Rescue and Resuscitation. This resolution asks all citizens to learn CPR, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation. In an emergency, call 911 and become the first responder to provide rescue breaths and chest compressions before professional first responders arrive. Seconds matter! CPR skills provide the critical moments to save a life. See your local Red Cross for classes at www.redcross.org.
Aquatic Capital member Paul Dunning brings this good news to you as a world leader in drowning prevention by successfully achieving the key points of the United Nations Global Drowning Prevention resolution long ago. In 2006, Paul and John Pearce, both long-time Long Beach residents and lifeguards, founded Project Ecuador, an international lifeguard training program by the Long Beach Lifeguard Association targeting Ecuador’s most dangerous beaches with the highest incidence of drowning.
Over the next 5 years, the training programs expanded to all coastal regions targeting 20 beaches and they trained and provided rescue equipment and uniforms to over 150 Ecuadorians through successful donation campaigns, of which over 70% were from Long Beach citizens.
Paul and John met with key government leaders and promoted Project Safe Beaches, a National Water Safety Plan emphasizing the need for professional lifeguards. In October 2011, Ecuador’s Government created legislation supporting professional lifeguards and invested $400,000 to support the cause. Lifeguards in Ecuador are thriving and have proven themselves to be the best in Latin America. Project Ecuador changed public policy, and drowning rates fell an astonishing 31%.
Project Ecuador received the Sustainable Development Award by Sister Cities International in 2012. Also in 2012, Paul Dunning was appointed Director US Aid by the International Life Saving Federation – Americas Region, continuing the global effort to reduce drowning in several countries.
Drowning is preventable and you can be part of the solution.
Thanks for the information is this article goes to:
Paul Dunning
Founder, Project Ecuador
Director US Aid. International Life Saving Federation-Americas Region 2012 – 2019
Member, Long Beach Lifeguards Alumni
Member, Aquatic Capital of America
Congressional Cup Returns!
The excitement of Congressional Cup racing will return to Long Beach Yacht Club September 14 to 19, 2021 when the world’s leading match racing skippers compete for this venerated trophy and the prized Crimson Blazer. Read more..
Wed, Jun 30, 2021
Jr. Guards 2021
The Long Beach Junior Guards program has record enrollment for 2021. What a great opportunity for our Long Beach kids! We love that they get the chance to get comfortable in the ocean, learn new life skills, and perhaps become part of the next generation of lifeguards keeping our residents and visitors safe at the beach!
See Jo Murray's article about the program at https://www.presstelegram.com/2021/05/31/long-beach-junior-guards-program-sets-enrollment-record/
See Jo Murray's article about the program at https://www.presstelegram.com/2021/05/31/long-beach-junior-guards-program-sets-enrollment-record/
Virtual Swim-Paddle-Row event
Lucy Johnson reports the Aquatic Capital of America (ACOA) virtual Long Beach to Honolulu fundraiser participants logged in more than 16 million yards, with a special shout out to Erin Vince for her 10-mile swim at Huntington Lake and Mike O’Toole’s Gondola Getaway gondoliers, who logged more than 700 miles during the month of August.
Paddleboarding
Paul Carey (Naples) Alejandro Sheratt (Surfside) and Deke Campbell (Huntington Harbor) had been training hard for the 2020 Catalina Classic.
According to the race’s website, “August 30th would have been the 41st Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race … an epic and traditional paddleboard race of world class paddlers that race 32 miles of open water from the Isthmus on Catalina Island to the Manhattan Beach Pier. Unfortunately, 2020 was the first time in 38 years, due to circumstances beyond our control we were forced to officially cancel the race. “
These young men decided to have a 3-man personal challenge and make the crossing on their own.
Deke's stepfather, Jody Campbell, motored the boys over to Two Harbors to camp overnight at Parson’s Landing. They broke camp at 5 the next morning.
Jody said, “It was a remarkable beautiful day, the sunrise was spectacular. There was a freighter passing at a distance and the guys paused a moment to truly appreciate the beauty of their surroundings.”
Shortly afterward, a small whale breached within 20 feet of the trio, and another whale surfaced between the paddlers and the Campbell’s boat.
5 hours and 47 minutes later, they reached Cabrillo Beach.”
According to the race’s website, “August 30th would have been the 41st Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race … an epic and traditional paddleboard race of world class paddlers that race 32 miles of open water from the Isthmus on Catalina Island to the Manhattan Beach Pier. Unfortunately, 2020 was the first time in 38 years, due to circumstances beyond our control we were forced to officially cancel the race. “
These young men decided to have a 3-man personal challenge and make the crossing on their own.
Deke's stepfather, Jody Campbell, motored the boys over to Two Harbors to camp overnight at Parson’s Landing. They broke camp at 5 the next morning.
Jody said, “It was a remarkable beautiful day, the sunrise was spectacular. There was a freighter passing at a distance and the guys paused a moment to truly appreciate the beauty of their surroundings.”
Shortly afterward, a small whale breached within 20 feet of the trio, and another whale surfaced between the paddlers and the Campbell’s boat.
5 hours and 47 minutes later, they reached Cabrillo Beach.”
Jo Murray’s “On the Water” column in the Grunion Gazette from 9/3/20
Here is the link to Jo Murray’s “On the Water” column in the Grunion Gazette from 9/3/20 that covered our virtual event along with a couple of other aaccomplishments. https://www.gazettes.com/sports/on_the_water/on-the-water-paddling-a-long-way-and-a-really-long-way/article_3740c6e8-ebc9-11ea-b826-b777159814db.html