Andrew Malinak finishes his swim around Bainbridge Island on Aug 8. Melissa Nordquist

Andrew Malinak finishes his swim around Bainbridge Island on Aug 8. Melissa Nordquist

Seattle swimmer to make second attempt to cross Strait of Juan de Fuca on Sunday after adverse conditions derailed 2013 try

PORT ANGELES — A Seattle man will make a second attempt to swim the Strait of Juan de Fuca on Sunday.

Andrew Malinak, 28, a Seattle long-distance swimmer by hobby and civil engineer by profession, plans to leave Beechy Head west of Victoria in East Sooke Park at the southern tip of Vancouver Island at about 6:45 a.m.

He’ll be swimming without a wetsuit — only a swimsuit and goggles, and perhaps a little Vaseline to prevent chafing — in water temperature anticipated to be 50 to 52 degrees.

He expects the 12-mile crossing to the North Olympic Peninsula to take between five and six hours and hopes to step onto the sandy beach near the mouth of the Elwha River between noon and 1 p.m.

Malinak attempted to swim across the Strait in July 2013 but was undone by adverse currents, fog and cold water.

The swimmer left the water about a mile off Crescent Beach, having made no progress for over an hour as he fought the currents.

Coming out of the water, his ears were ringing and he “couldn’t see straight,” he said Friday.

He said he had trained for swimming in cold water, “but not that cold.”

He had expected a water temperature of about 52 degrees but faced 46-degree water instead.

Fog forced him to wait an hour to begin the 2013 attempt. As a result, the currents were not optimal and forced him off course.

His scheduled start time Sunday should provide him with minimal tides and currents, Malinak said.

Accompanying him Sunday will be Capt. Charles Martin of Livin the Dream, a 26-foot Sequim-based catamaran safety vessel that traveled with Malinak on his first attempt to swim the Strait.

Also supporting him will be swimmers Howie Ruddell of Port Angeles, Scott Lautman and Erika Norris of Seattle, and Melissa Nordquist of Gig Harbor.

Ruddell, owner of Ruddell Auto Mall in Port Angeles, is also an endurance swimmer who swam the length of Lake Crescent, almost 9 miles, in 2013.

He considers himself a novice among this experienced crew. He met Malinak three years ago on a swim near Alki in West Seattle.

“For me to be a part of a swim like this is a special opportunity,” Ruddell said. “It’ll be fun to be a part of this swim.”

Lautman is a six-time NCAA All-American swimmer in his 50s. He has swum the English Channel, around Manhattan Island and across the Strait of Gilbraltar.

Nordquist is an open water swimmer and architect living in Gig Harbor.

Norris is another endurance swimmer — a six-time NCAA Division III All-American and a graphic designer living in the Seattle area.

Each of his support crew members were expected to get into the water in turns with Malinak to keep him company over the deep waters of the Strait.

Nordquist and Norris, Malinak said, will probably “keep me fed” with the calories he needs to feed his muscles during the swim. All of them will look after him and ensure he is well.

Malinak will follow Marathon Swimmers Federation rules for unassisted swims, he said.

He can’t have contact with others during the swim, and his achievement must be documented by qualified observers.

He is allowed to receive food, which will probably be powdered nutrition in a water bottle every 20 minutes or so.

On Friday, he acknowledged that Sunday’s weather forecast was for rain.

No problem — he’ll already be wet in the water, he reasoned, and his support crew can put on rain jackets.

In the water, Malinak plans to swim a “relaxed freestyle” stroke.

The first few minutes are always difficult as he gets comfortable in the cold water, he said, but after he starts swimming, it is just like any other long-distance sport:

He gets into “the zone” and just keeps his arms and legs moving.

The swim will be the third leg of his “Summer of Bert,” feats inspired by legendary Tacoma swimmer Bert Thomas.

In 1956, Thomas was the first person in documented history to swim the Strait.

Earlier this summer, Malinak completed an 18.8-mile swim from Tacoma to Seattle in eight hours, 43 minutes.

On Aug. 8, he swam 25.5 miles around Bainbridge Island in 12 hours, 23 minutes.

If successful Sunday, Malinak will join the ranks of a number of swimmers who have mastered the Strait, including:

■ Bert Thomas — July 1955.

■ Cliff Lumsdon, Amy Hiland, Ben Laughren and Marilyn Bell — August 1956.

■ Vicki Keith — August 1989.

■ Fin Donnelly — August 1994.

■ Ken Goodman, Orlando Boleda and Paul Webber — September 2014.

Malinak had hoped to be the eighth person in 2013. If successful Sunday, he’ll be the 11th.

Weather permitting, Malinak is confident he’ll make it.

“I feel like I’m much more prepared than I was two years ago,” he said.

The swim will be live-tweeted by the crew at @andrewswims #SJDF2015 #SummerOfBert, and live GPS tracking will be available on vessel tracking websites such as www.vesselfinder.com or www.marinetraffic.com by searching MMSI (ship number) 367575160.

________

Reporter Mark Swanson can be reached at 360-417-3531 or mswanson@paneinsuladailynews.com.

More in News

The ferry MV Coho backs into its landing after returning to Port Angeles on Tuesday following annual dry dock and maintenance in Anacortes. During the maintenance period, extensive work was performed on the dock, including replacement of a wing wall used to steer and secure the vessel during loading and unloading of cars and passengers. The ferry is scheduled to resume daily service between Port Angeles and Victoria on Thursday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Coho returns

The ferry MV Coho backs into its landing after returning to Port… Continue reading

Building association calls for city to cease utility charges

Association says charges unconstitutional

Jefferson Land Trust considering conservation burial ground

Funds from plot sales could fund habitat improvements

Port Angeles artist Bob Stokes sits in his studio and music venue on Wednesday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Art community mourns Bob Stokes’ passing

Legacy includes statues, concerts, gatherings

Clallam PUD
Cindy Kimble, Clallam PUD’s customer and community outreach programs coordinator, can help residents navigate the utility district’s revamped low-income energy assistance program.
Clallam PUD hires staff to help low-income customers

Clallam County Public Utility District has overhauled its low-income energy… Continue reading

Jen Colmore, left, and June Nichols of the Sequim Food Bank serve a sample of chili to Monica Dixon of Sequim during Saturday’s Community Chili Cookoff at the Sequim Boys & Girls Club. The event, organized by the club and Boy Scout Troop 90, showcased the culinary skills of six community organizations with each group receiving a share of the proceeds and the winner taking a $500 prize. The food bank’s chili recipe took top honors in the competition. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Chili cookoff

Jen Colmore, left, and June Nichols of the Sequim Food Bank serve… Continue reading

Port Townsend to test sewer system with smoke, dye

The city of Port Townsend will test its sewer… Continue reading

JUMP! Playground to close for renovations

Jefferson County Parks and Recreation will close the JUMP! Playground… Continue reading

Barcy Fisher, left, and Patti Buckland have been selected as the 2024 Marrowstone Island Citizens of the Year.
Fisher, Buckland honored as Marrowstone Island citizens of year

Barcy Fisher and Patty Buckland were named Marrowstone Island’s 2024… Continue reading

About 800 people from Jefferson and Clallam counties spill out from the steps of the Jefferson County Courthouse onto Jefferson Street in Port Townsend on Monday to take part in a National Day of Protest organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement.” (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Hundreds protest actions of Trump administration

Activists cite USAID, worry about Treasury, impacts of immigration

Peninsula to welcome Canadian visitors

Celebration of Coho passengers planned

Fish barrier removal to impact highway traffic

Portions of roadway to have long-term closures