I made my 3rd Alcatraz crossing on Saturday. It seems like if you live in the Bay Area and enjoy swimming, you really should take the opportunity to find yourself out in the middle of the Bay in some really cold water! Jumping from a ferry is always exhilerating and from there you pretty much put your head down, swim, and try not to go too far off course.
BTW, an eight-year old boy swam it and then the next morning swam the span of the Golden Gate Swim (1.5 miles) which I want to try next year.
No Soap, Radio! 