Shark bait

Standing ominously over steep cliffs, waves crashing against the rocks that surround the small island in the San Francisco Bay, Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary was one of the most infamous prisons in the United States. It was also one of the most daunting for prisoners to escape from.

During its 29 years in operation, 36 men attempted to escape the island prison and swim to shore – all but three failed. 

It’s been speculated that swimming across San Francisco Bay to escape was impossible — but was it? Alumnus Kevin Zarchin ’94 can tell you … it’s not.

In August, Zarchin joined nearly 700 others for Sharkfest Alcatraz, an annual swimming race across San Francisco Bay. The treacherous race begins on the southeastern side of Alcatraz, from which participants must swim the 1.5 miles through shark-infested, freezing waters to the mainland shores of the bay. 

“They say you should confront your fears,” he said. And a fear of sharks was definitely one of Zarchin’s.

San Francisco Bay is home to 11 known species of shark — including great whites — but the perils don't stop there. Zarchin was surprised to find out sea lions can prove to be dangerous to swimmers as well.

“On top of sharks, cold water, tidal currents and waves, I now had to worry about the sea lions,” Zarchin said.

Even if the creatures in the bay didn't pose a problem, the swim is still no easy feat, he said. The temperature of the water in the bay can range between 49 to 61 degrees. 

“The cold water takes your breath away.”

“The cold water takes your breath away,” Zarchin said. “It’s an instant shock to your body and takes about 10 minutes to get used to the frigid waters.”

According to the rules of Sharkfest Alcatraz, each participant is required to complete the swim within 75 minutes or else they are removed from the water for safety purposes.

Leading up to the race, Zarchin swam five days a week for three months — but because pool conditions are much more mild than open water swimming, he trained by swimming in the pool longer than the race distance to prepare for challenging open-water conditions.

“I felt that if I could swim 2 miles in a pool within one hour, I could finish the race within 45 to 55 minutes,” Zarchin said. “That would give me wiggle room to accommodate for race-day water conditions.”

After months of training, the day had finally arrived and Zarchin finished the race in 52 minutes and 36 seconds. Halfway through his swim, he stopped to take in the moment. 

“I looked behind me at Alcatraz as the sun poked through the partially cloudy skies. I looked to the left at the Golden Gate Bridge and to the southeast at the San Francisco-Oakland Bridge — what a beautiful sight,” Zarchin said. 

Having finished the race, Zarchin not only accomplished his goal, but also left with an even bigger lesson.

“In life, it’s not so much about the destination as it is about the journey.”