Relay Member Application

Thanks for your interest in a Santa Barbara Channel relay swim. We looking forward to working with you.

  • For best results, we recommend using a standard desktop or laptop computer with a modern web browser such as Google Chrome. This application is not tested on mobile devices!
  • The following pages will guide you through the information we need about you and your planned swim. Feel free to browse through the pages to preview the questions.
  • Required fields are outlined in red.
  • Red text at bottom of each page provides feedback about incomplete fields.
  • Each page turns bold green when all the required fields on that page are complete.
  • Click the Save and Return Later page to save a partially-completed application that you will finish later.
  • Please double-check your entries for accuracy. When you are ready, use the SUBMIT tab to send your application to the SBCSA.

Questions or technical issues? Email apply@sbchannelswim.org


Swimmer will be younger than 18 on the date of the swim. Is there a parent or guardian present to help complete the rest of the application?

Swimmer Info

Parent/Guardian Contact Info

Emergency Contact Person

Please list an emergency contact person who will be on land during the swim.

Swimmer will be younger than 18 on the date of the swim. Is there a parent or guardian present to help complete the rest of the application?

Swim Experience

Lifetime Membership

SBCSA Lifetime Members are entitled (for life) to a $100 discount on Solo sanction fees, a $50 discount on relay sanction fees, and recognition on our website, in our newsletter, and at the annual banquet (more info here).

Lifetime Membership costs $250 (one time only), and is tax-deductible for U.S. taxpayers. The discount is valid immediately, including for this swim.

Medical Clearance

Marathon swimming is an inherently physically stressful activity, even under the best of circumstances.

All swimmers undertaking SBCSA-sanctioned swims must be in excellent general health, and must have been examined by a physician within the twelve months prior to their scheduled attempt.


Is there any aspect of your personal health or medical history that may affect your ability to successfully complete this swim?

If yes, please describe the issue below.

Please note, the information you provide does not necessarily disqualify your application. But it may help the SBCSA and your official observer better serve you during your swim attempt.

Please read the following two statements. If they are true, please check the boxes.

1. To the best of my knowledge, I am in excellent general health and have not omitted any information which might be relevant to my ability to swim the Santa Barbara Channel

2. I have been examined by a medical doctor within the past 12 months, and have been specifically cleared to undertake this event.

Liability Waiver

The parent or guardian of the swimmer should read this form, initial each section, and enter an electronic signature at the bottom.

The following is a release of liability and waiver of certain legal rights. Your agreement is required in order to undertake a SBCSA-sanctioned swim. Please read carefully before signing.

In consideration of being allowed to participate in any way (including without limitation by observing, swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding, or otherwise supporting) in a swimming event (the “Swim”) in the ocean waters in the vicinity of the Channel Islands of Southern California or other designated waters (collectively, the “Channel”) observed and recorded by the Santa Barbara Channel Swimming Association, a California nonprofit corporation (“SBCSA”) for the purpose of sanction, verification or authentication by SBCSA, or events and activities related to the Swim (including without limitation entering or exiting any body of water from or near any ladder, vessel, dock, land formation or otherwise, with or without assistance), the undersigned, for himself or herself, and his or her personal representatives, assigns, heirs, distributees, guardians, executors, administrators and next of kin, and each of them:

1. Hereby releases, waives, discharges and relinquishes any action or cause of action and covenants not to sue SBCSA, its directors, officers, members, agents (including without limitation persons assigned to observe or assist the Swim), servants and employees (the “Releasees”) from all liability to the undersigned for any and all loss or damage, and any claim or demand therefor on account of injury or damage to person or property or resulting in death, whether caused by the negligence of any of the Releasees or otherwise.

2. Hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Releasees and each of them from any loss, liability, damage or cost, including without limitation court costs and attorney’s fees, any Releasee may incur resulting from claims, demands and causes of action of every kind, known or unknown, directly or indirectly arising from any action or proceeding brought by or prosecuted for the benefit of the undersigned and related in any way to the Swim, whether caused by the negligence of any of the Releasees or otherwise.

3. Hereby assumes full responsibility for any risk of bodily injury, death or property damage arising out of or related in any way to the Swim, whether caused by the negligence of any of the Releasees or otherwise.

4. Hereby acknowledges that the Swim is inherently dangerous and involves the risk of serious injury, permanent disability, death and property damage. The undersigned assumes full responsibility for and risk of bodily injury, permanent disability, death and property damage, whether due to the negligence of any of the Releasees or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations or procedures of any of the Releasees.

5. Hereby acknowledges the extreme difficulty involved in the Swim, including without limitation the risk of exhaustion or hypothermia, even for a well-conditioned athlete. The undersigned acknowledges that participation in the Swim should not be undertaken unless the undersigned is in excellent health and is fully trained and conditioned for the strenuous task of the Swim in the open ocean at water temperatures significantly below normal human body temperature. The undersigned acknowledges that SBCSA has no duty before, during or after the Swim to assess or evaluate the training, physical fitness, then-current mental or physical capacity or condition of the undersigned or to offer or provide any medical assistance or other aid to the undersigned. The undersigned assumes full responsibility for and risk of bodily injury, death or property damage (including without limitation as associated with the adequacy of the physical fitness, training and conditioning of the undersigned as well as any medical condition of the undersigned, acute or otherwise), whether due to the negligence of any of the Releasees or otherwise, including negligent rescue operations or procedures of any of the Releasees.

6. Hereby acknowledges that conditions in the area where the Swim will take place may at any time of the year include gale force winds; strong and rapidly building storms; dense fog; great and swift seas; strong currents; pounding surf; treacherous rocks and reefs; kelp; and potentially dangerous marine animals (including without limitation jellyfish, stingrays, sharks, sea lions, seals, whales, sea urchins, swordfish, dolphins, sea otters, barracuda, eels, and scorpion fish). The undersigned acknowledges that portions of the Channel are major maritime shipping lanes, subject to heavy use day and night by commercial vessels of great speed, tonnage and size (including without limitation speed boats, container ships and oil tankers). The undersigned assumes full responsibility for and risk of bodily injury, death or property damage (including without limitation as associated with the conditions in the area where the Swim will take place, such as the conditions mentioned in this paragraph), whether due to the negligence of any of the Releasees or otherwise.

7. Hereby acknowledges that the undersigned has previously hired a vessel to escort or assist in the Swim. The undersigned has invited one or more SBCSA observers to be guests aboard such vessel during the Swim and hereby acknowledges that neither such observers nor SBCSA (and its invitees if any) shall have any responsibility for the actions of such vessel, its captain and crew or any other invitee of the undersigned, including without limitation actions associated with navigating or piloting the vessel and feeding or providing medical assistance to the undersigned. The undersigned assumes full responsibility for and risk of bodily injury (including without limitation dismemberment by boat propeller), death or property damage associated with the hiring of such vessel and the actions of its captain and crew (including without limitation the actions mentioned in this paragraph), whether due to the negligence of any of the Releasees or otherwise.

8. Hereby acknowledges and agrees that: (i) any Swim is the sole responsibility of the undersigned; (ii) the undersigned is completely responsible for taking or implementing any and all precautions and measures appropriate or advisable for any such undertaking, including without limitation maintaining adequate insurance related to such undertaking; (iii) there is no role or responsibility whatsoever for SBCSA or any of the Releasees in this regard; (iv) the undersigned is participating in any Swim upon the sole initiative of the undersigned and is not responding to any advertisement or promotional activities of SBCSA or acknowledgments or awards that have been offered or may be provided by SBCSA in connection with any Swim; and (v) the undersigned is absolutely free to undertake a Swim without any involvement of SBCSA whatsoever, and has elected to involve SBCSA solely to determine whether any Swim meets the requirements, if successful, for inclusion in the official records of SBCSA. SBCSA disclaims any and all duties or obligations of any kind, including without limitation any duty or obligation to maintain any insurance against risk of injury to the undersigned, and the undersigned expressly acknowledges the absence of any such duties or obligations, hereby affirmatively waiving any such duties or obligations as well as any inference of the same.

9. Hereby acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the undersigned has had adequate time to review this Waiver and Release of Liability; (ii) the undersigned completely understands this Waiver and Release of Liability and the concepts contained herein; (iii) the undersigned has had an opportunity to have counsel review this Waiver and Release of Liability; (iv) SBCSA has been available to answer any questions from the undersigned related to this Waiver and Release of Liability and the Swim; and (v) all such questions have been answered to the satisfaction of the undersigned.

10. Hereby agrees that this Waiver and Release of Liability is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the laws of the State of California and that if any portion hereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect.

Submit Application

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Next Steps

  • Your team's relay application is complete when all the individual Relay Member applications have been received.
  • The SBCSA will be in touch with your Team Leader about sanction fee payments, observer assignments, and other details.

Save and Return Later

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