It was the the first day of July, 2 a.m., and Phoenix Brophy Prep senior swimmer Henry Palmer was about to embark on his first cold-water marathon ocean swim in the Santa Barbara Channel off California.

Accompanying him was Neptune Swim Club coach and longtime friend, Joe Zemaitis, who was grateful to be part of a sanctioned swim event with the COVID-19 pandemic canceling many activities.

Because of COVID-19 restrictions, this was one of the first sanctioned marathon swims in North America in 2020.

“It’s hard to think of an easier adventure to physically distance than a marathon swim,” Zemaitis said.

It started off Hollywood Beach in Oxnard with the goal of finishing the 12.2-mile course to Anacapa Island in six to 10 hours.

A wet suit was not allowed. The water was about 59 degrees.

Because of a tricky current, the course turned into 14.3 miles. Along the way, there were obstacles. But Palmer and Zemaitis finished in 6 1/2 hours.

“This was my first cold-water ocean marathon swim, and the 59-degree water chilled me to the bone off the start,” Palmer said. “The cold combined with the countless jellyfish stings and pitch-black horizon for the first half of the swim pushed me to the breaking point.

“I had to dig deep within and pull out another gear. But that’s what I love about marathon swimming.”

Palmer, 17, said he got into swims like that because he wanted to prove to himself and others that there are no limits, even when the coronavirus imposes limits.

“Escape your limitations,” Palmer says is his mantra both in the classroom, where he has taken 11 advanced-placement courses in his first three years at Brophy Prep, and in the water.

“I have become one of the youngest men to ever cross the Santa Barbara Channel, in addition to becoming one of the youngest to circumnavigate Manhattan last August.”

Palmer swam the 20 Bridges last August, circumnavigating the 28.5-mile course around Manhattan Island in New York City in 7 hours, 56 minutes.

He said he is thankful for his Brophy Prep and Phoenix Swim Club coaches for helping him reach goals “that seem ludicrous to most people.”

Zemaitis, who coached Palmer when he was younger and has gone on other long swims with him, said he’s not surprised by Palmer’s resiliency.

“Henry works extremely hard to make it happen,” Zemaitis said. “He came up big (Wednesday), 6.5-hour swim in cold water and some challenging conditions. It was a great day.”

Three times, Palmer has done one-mile Alcatraz and Gold Gate swims.

“He really found a passion for open water and set some great goals for 2020,” Zemaitis said. “The drive comes from a desire to have a unique and almost impossible-sounding goal and push the limits of what’s possible at a young age.”

Tom Palmer, Henry’s dad, served as crew chief on the boat that followed the swimmer. He also was in charge of feeds every 30 minutes.

Henry hopes to swim in two more open-water events this summer — the Lake Tahoe Open Water Swim in late July and the the 20-mile Catalina Island swim, which is undecided because of COVID restrictions in Los Angeles County. The Catalina season runs until November, he said.

“Henry loves swimming in the open water and has the tenacity to train for and swim marathon distances,” said Julie Palmer, Henry’s mom. “He feels it makes him stand apart from the many great swimmers his age. He’s fearless.”

To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at [email protected] or 602-316-8827. Follow him on Twitter @azc_obert.

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