We are pleased to announce that the awesome
Barbados Open Water Festival
will be back November 8th - 12th, 2023
Save the dates, online entries will open January 2023
The Festival runs for five fabulous days - three days of practice swims and two days of "Races". You can choose to swim one day or all five! Experience three open water swimming locations in Barbados. The races are a wonderful mix of ages and abilities, serious swimmers and swimmers just there for enjoyment. Distances: 1.5K, 3.3K, 5K, 10K. Every year we welcome numerous first time "sea-swimmers". Finisher Medals & Age Category Medals. Random prizes - swim and you may win!
Over the years many familiar faces of the open water world have been seen at the Festival - Olympians, World Champions, Masters Champions, marathon swimmers, Triple Crowners, Pan Am Medallists, National Champs, Ice swimmers, World Record Holders, Pro-triathletes, Swim Administrators & more.
THE VENUE: CARLISLE BAY
The focal point of the Festival is the magnificent Carlisle Bay. The swimmers rave about the ideal open water swimming conditions at the venue, Carlisle Bay, a protected Marine Park. The Bay is truly idyllic but also steeped in history, as a former bustling seaport, visited by the likes of George Washington and famous British Admiral, Lord Nelson. Suitably, the Bay now lies adjacent to the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site: “Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison”.
This historic bay was named after the 'Earl of Carlisle', who at that time was James Hay. He was a Lord Proprietor of the British West Indies colonies which included Barbados. Carlisle Bay was once a port for large ships which could not fit in the Careenage Harbour, in the nearby capital city of Bridgetown.
Crystal clear calm water that laps gently onto a long white sand beach and little or no undertow. A swimmer once likened Carlisle Bay to a "large swimming pool but even more beautiful".
The focal point of the Festival is the magnificent Carlisle Bay. The swimmers rave about the ideal open water swimming conditions at the venue, Carlisle Bay, a protected Marine Park. The Bay is truly idyllic but also steeped in history, as a former bustling seaport, visited by the likes of George Washington and famous British Admiral, Lord Nelson. Suitably, the Bay now lies adjacent to the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site: “Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison”.
This historic bay was named after the 'Earl of Carlisle', who at that time was James Hay. He was a Lord Proprietor of the British West Indies colonies which included Barbados. Carlisle Bay was once a port for large ships which could not fit in the Careenage Harbour, in the nearby capital city of Bridgetown.
Crystal clear calm water that laps gently onto a long white sand beach and little or no undertow. A swimmer once likened Carlisle Bay to a "large swimming pool but even more beautiful".
Carlisle Bay, Barbados
SWIM and then VACATION
John Wilmott once wrote in the UK Telegraph: “This small but perfect island at the edge of the Caribbean offers a wonderful holiday mix of tropical charm and great sporting events. Unlike some destinations where everything seems put on for the benefit of tourists, this jewel of a tropical island is a proper living, breathing, authentic place with a heart and a soul. And from London all these treats are just eight hours and 30 minutes away (but feel a million miles from the grey UK).”
Over the life of the event the Festival has welcomed swimmers of all ages and abilities from more than thirty-five countries. From recreational to elite, pool swimmers to channel swimmers, world champions and Olympians, from as far away as Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa and Singapore. Every year the swimmers arrive from different countries and all walks of life but all with a shared passion for open water swimming and heart-warming camaraderie ensues. Often swimmers arrive who have never swam in the sea or any body of open water before! In 2020 many returning regulars are expected from the UK, Canada, USA and Trinidad. Hundreds take part in the “social swims and post-swim dinners” as well as the four races (1.5K, 3.3K, 5K and 10K races) and the Just for Fun 1.5K Swim during the five-day event every November. The Fun Swim raises funds for Variety: The Children’s Charity.
John Wilmott once wrote in the UK Telegraph: “This small but perfect island at the edge of the Caribbean offers a wonderful holiday mix of tropical charm and great sporting events. Unlike some destinations where everything seems put on for the benefit of tourists, this jewel of a tropical island is a proper living, breathing, authentic place with a heart and a soul. And from London all these treats are just eight hours and 30 minutes away (but feel a million miles from the grey UK).”
Over the life of the event the Festival has welcomed swimmers of all ages and abilities from more than thirty-five countries. From recreational to elite, pool swimmers to channel swimmers, world champions and Olympians, from as far away as Hong Kong, Australia, South Africa and Singapore. Every year the swimmers arrive from different countries and all walks of life but all with a shared passion for open water swimming and heart-warming camaraderie ensues. Often swimmers arrive who have never swam in the sea or any body of open water before! In 2020 many returning regulars are expected from the UK, Canada, USA and Trinidad. Hundreds take part in the “social swims and post-swim dinners” as well as the four races (1.5K, 3.3K, 5K and 10K races) and the Just for Fun 1.5K Swim during the five-day event every November. The Fun Swim raises funds for Variety: The Children’s Charity.
Regulars : Left - Rick Peters (CAN) and Eney Jones (US). Middle: Susan Kirk and Sarah Clark aka "The Jersey Girls" with organiser Kristina Evelyn and Right - Bertram and son, Nikoli Blackman (Trinidad).
GUEST SWIMMER 2018 & 2019...Cameron Bellamy - "Longest circumnavigation swim" and "Longest Channel Swim Ever".
#SWIMAROUNDBARBADOS 96 K in an incredible 40 hours and 43 minutes. READ MORE HERE. BARBADOS to ST LUCIA. September 2019. Cameron Bellamy swam 151K in 56 hours and 55 minutes. One of the longest sea swims ever. READ MORE HERE December 2019 - Cameron Bellamy rowed with a team across the treacherous Drake Passage to Antarctica. #TheImpossibleRow Why? Cameron Bellamy swims for a cause: Ubunye Challenge The charity leverages on Cameron's endurance feats and raises funds for children's education in rural areas of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
#SWIMAROUNDBARBADOS 96 K in an incredible 40 hours and 43 minutes. READ MORE HERE. BARBADOS to ST LUCIA. September 2019. Cameron Bellamy swam 151K in 56 hours and 55 minutes. One of the longest sea swims ever. READ MORE HERE December 2019 - Cameron Bellamy rowed with a team across the treacherous Drake Passage to Antarctica. #TheImpossibleRow Why? Cameron Bellamy swims for a cause: Ubunye Challenge The charity leverages on Cameron's endurance feats and raises funds for children's education in rural areas of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
The Swimmers Say....
"Loved your event!! We had such a blast swimming with the turtles each loop and enjoyed all of the sights in the gorgeous sea! Fabulous event ... Fabulous new friends ... Fabulous prizes ... Fabulous island!! Thank you for all your hard work to host such festive days of aquatic fun in the sea! Already looking forward to the next time that I can return to swim in your event again!" Susan, USA
See other Swimmer Sentiments
"Loved your event!! We had such a blast swimming with the turtles each loop and enjoyed all of the sights in the gorgeous sea! Fabulous event ... Fabulous new friends ... Fabulous prizes ... Fabulous island!! Thank you for all your hard work to host such festive days of aquatic fun in the sea! Already looking forward to the next time that I can return to swim in your event again!" Susan, USA
See other Swimmer Sentiments
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Are you a Runner? Check out Run Barbados Marathon Weekend! Run Barbados has been hosted annually since 1983. Three days of Run Fun!
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