SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Open-water swimmer Catherine Breed will host a Swim California community gathering on Thursday, September 24, 2026, at 5:30 p.m. on Stearns Wharf in Santa Barbara. The event will be hosted by the Santa Barbara Natural History Museum’s Sea Center and will feature remarks from Ted Morton, executive director of Santa Barbara Channelkeeper.
The gathering is part of Breed’s approximately 900-mile swim along the California coast, from the Oregon border to Mexico. Throughout the expedition, Breed is stopping in coastal communities to share her experience and meet the people working to protect local waters.
“Swimming this coast has given me a deeper appreciation for the work it takes to protect it,” said Breed. “I look forward to sharing the journey with the Santa Barbara community and hearing from Ted about Channelkeeper’s efforts to keep local waters healthy and thriving.”
“We’re excited to welcome Catherine to Santa Barbara and to share the work our community is doing to keep our ocean and coastal ecosystems healthy,” said Morton. “Her inspirational journey is a powerful reminder of the connection between people and the waters we’re working to protect.”
Swim California supports the mission of Sea Dreamers, the nonprofit Breed founded to connect women to the ocean through adventure, education, and community. The expedition’s community stops introduce residents to local conservation organizations and opportunities to support their work.
Allez! Sports, Swim California’s exclusive media partner, is documenting the expedition and its community stops through video and social media coverage.
Thank you to the Santa Barbara Yacht Club for welcoming the Swim California crew, and their support for the team during their visit to the Santa Barbara Harbor.
Event Details
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 5:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Location: Stearns Wharf / Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center
Address: 211 Stearns Wharf, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Featured speaker: Ted Morton, Executive Director, Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
About Santa Barbara Channelkeeper
Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting and restoring the Santa Barbara Channel and its watersheds through water-quality monitoring, advocacy, education, enforcement and community engagement. Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is a member of the California Coastkeeper Alliance.
About Catherine Breed
Catherine Breed is a former NCAA champion, U.S. National Team swimmer, and internationally recognized open-water athlete with record-breaking swims across Lake Tahoe, Monterey Bay, and the English Channel. Her passion for the ocean drives her mission to use endurance swimming as a force for environmental good.
About Sea Dreamers
Sea Dreamers is a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting women to the ocean through adventure, education, and community. By creating opportunities for participation, leadership, and exploration, Sea Dreamers empowers individuals to pursue meaningful challenges while fostering a lifelong commitment to protecting marine environments.
About Allez! Sports
Allez! Sports is a global women’s sports media company building the next era of premium storytelling at the intersection of sport and culture, producing, distributing, and marketing original series, documentaries, live events, and weekly programming. As the exclusive media partner for Swim California, Allez! Sports will bring Catherine Breed’s historic expedition to audiences everywhere through premium multi-format storytelling and live coverage.
Follow the Journey
Website: SwimCalifornia.com
Instagram: @Catherine.Breed
Video: Swim California Trailer