Thursday, September 24, 2026
Birch Bay, Washinton

Tonight, Thursday, September 24, at about 10 p.m. Pacific, my eldest son, Michael Sean Hodel— “Mike the Marlin”—plans to put his toes in the water at Santa Catalina and begin his overnight swim to the Palos Verdes coast. He expects to reach Sacred Cove, also known as Smuggler’s Cove, around 10 a.m. Friday.

Mike has already swum the English Channel and around Manhattan. Catalina is the third and final swim in his quest for the open-water Triple Crown. As his dad, I’ll be following every mile.

The old Four Preps song is running through my head: “Twenty-six miles across the sea, Santa Catalina is a-waitin’ for me.” Tonight Mike will be swimming the other way!

Calling all dolphins: Please report for escort duty. Guide our Marlin across the channel and see him safely to shore.

Go get ’em, Michael. Your proud papa is cheering you on all night.

Tracking link will activate at departure time. TRACK HERE.

—Dad