​When the curtain came down on the eighth Barbados Open Water Festival last weekend it was the Canadians who had claimed the lion share of medals in the four races. Stephanie Horner, a Pan Am Medalist and three-time Olympian was victorious in both the 1.5K race and the 10K race. Horner, the first Canadian female to win an Open Water World Cup event, hopes to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  If successful Horner will become the first Canadian to swim at four Olympic Games.
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The 8th Barbados Open Water Festival kicked off Nov 6 with about 150 swimmers at practice swims at various venues. The races and charity swim started Nov 9 with the 1.5K race.  The first race day was overcast with thick black clouds looming and news of a severe thunderstorm only 20 miles away in the north of the island. Luckily at Carlisle Bay the race continued albeit through a torrential downpour which began as soon as the horn sounded for the start of the race. Thunder was audible in the distance as the three hundred and ninety five swimmers crossed the finish line. The following day the sun came out and an absolutely gorgeous day ensued with excellent conditions for the three hundred plus swimmers in the three Sunday races (3.3K, 5K, 10K).

In addition to Horner attending, a large group of young competitive open water swimmers hailing from all over Canada, led by Mark Perry, Canadian National Open Water Coach, were present at the Festival.  Days ahead of the event the talented young swimmers could be seen training at the local Aquatic Centre and in the magnificent Bay, their red and white Canadian swim caps always highly visible.  The Perry group had many successes in the races entered (1.5, 5 &10K races): Eric Brown won the 1.5K, Catherine Minic the 5K and Drew Edwards was the winner of the 10K marathon swim.  Several others from the group earned second and third place finishes.  Ashley Hogg of the UK was able to break through the Canadian domination in the Men’s 5K and grab that title from the Canadian group.

Barbados was well represented in all of the races with a one-two finish in the 3.3K and several age group placings in all races. Adara Stoddard and Toni Walrond of Barbados brought it home with first and second place finishes in the 3.3K. Canadian Zack Hebert-Jarema was the male winner in that race.

The hundreds of recreational swimmers that attended from around the world were thrilled with the presence of two marathon-swimming legends Cameron Bellamy and Jaimie Monahan.  Both are more comfortable with much longer swims but enjoyed jumping in and trying the shorter races much to the delight of other competitors. Many wrote on social media about swimming with the two well known swimmers – such as this comment on Cameron Bellamy’s page: “It really was an honour and a memory I’ll cherish to have been able to swim alongside you.  Continue to inspire.”

Cameron Bellamy, endurance athlete extraordinaire, recently known for his unprecedented open water swimming accomplishments is currently preparing for another “world first”. He will be part of a six-member team that will row 600 to 800 miles over twenty-one days across the notorious Drake Passage: a body of water thought to have the roughest and coldest waters on earth. The expedition has been dubbed “The Impossible Row”.

In the last few years Cameron Bellamy’s name has become synonymous with ultra-marathon swimming. Just two months ago the South African completed the longest channel swim ever when he swam a gruelling 151k from Barbados to St Lucia in 56 hours.  Last year he completed the final swim of the “Oceans Seven” – the seven toughest channel swims on earth and became the first person ever to swim 90K around the island of Barbados.
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The upcoming rowing expedition planned for December will be led by Colin O’Brady, former professional triathlete turned explorer and known for his world first crossing of Antarctica last year and Fiann Paul, a career ocean rower and Captain of the boat.  Paul was not only the first person to row four oceans but also the first person to simultaneously hold records for the fastest row across all four major oceans. The other three members of the team are Andrew Towne, John Petersen and Jamie Douglas-Hamilton. 

​Many in the marathon swimming world are unaware that Bellamy was a passionate flat-water rower at high school and university and actually represented South Africa at the World U23 Rowing Championships (2003) and World Student Games (2004).  Years later, in 2014, Bellamy rowed with a team, that included Douglas-Hamilton, across the Indian Ocean, from Geraldton, Australia to the Seychelles.  The 57 day, 6270km journey was arduous and not without mishaps such as a run-in with pirates, a near-collision with a blue whale and a ferocious storm.  The row across the Indian Ocean was named the longest ocean row by a team as well as the fastest crossing of the Ocean by rowing. 

The Drake Passage, named after Sir Francis Drake, an English sea captain and explorer refers to the body of water between Cape Horn, on the southern tip of South America and Antarctica. Sir Francis discovered the route while circumnavigating the globe between 1577 and 1580, thereby discovering that ships could sail between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.  It’s the meeting of these oceans in the Passage that causes enormous eddies to be created which will present a huge challenge for the daring rowing crew.

In the old days of wooden sail boats, no modern navigation technology or weather forecasts the Passage earned the title of “a sailors’ graveyard”.  The opening of the Panama Canal in 1914 was literally a saving grace as it greatly reduced the number of boats needing to round Cape Horn and face the treacherous surrounding waters.  

When Bellamy and the rest of the team set out on December 9, taking advantage of the Antarctic summer, their aim will be to become the first to successfully row a boat only utilizing human power across the Passage. Back in 1988, American Ned Gillette and a three-person crew completed a hybrid crossing from Cape Horn to the outer islands of the Antarctic peninsula by rowing with the aid of a sailing mast.  The crossing was featured in a 1989 issue of National Geographic. 

The plan for the six men on “The Impossible Row” is to row twenty-four hours a day, in 90-minute shifts, for an estimated 21 days.  As recently stated by O’Brady and reported by the New York Times the craft will be a typical ocean rowing boat, 25 feet long and about four feet wide. There will be some custom elements for the cold, like reinforced hatches and extra sealing. However, the quarters will be confined. At any given time, three men will be rowing with two oars each and the others will be in the tiny cabins sleeping. They expect to use 90-minute shifts for the entirety of the crossing so effectively will be operating on limited sleep.

Says O’Brady who has conquered the Seven Summits and is quoted in the New York Times: “Drake Passage is infamous in the world of maritime travel, with the competing currents from the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans.  Waves could surpass thirty feet and there could be icebergs. The biggest risk is fully capsizing and having your boat sink. In the worst storms, we will put out a sea anchor essentially a parachute; the currents fill up the parachute, and basically hold the boat in place. We jam ourselves into the cabins, which are watertight. The boat could flip and roll, but not sink … hopefully.”

The expedition will be documented in real time by Discovery Channel who will follow the rowers in a 120-foot boat and film the expedition for a documentary. They will not offer support, food or fuel and are only nearby for Antarctica permitting requirements, filming and emergency situations. The live content will be featured on Discovery.com/theimpossiblefirst website with a feature-length documentary to follow in 2020.

As in all of his adventures Bellamy’s aim will be to raise funds for the Ubunye Challenge, a charity he founded which supports early childhood education in South Africa and Zimbabwe. 

Amazing News! Steph Horner will be among a large Canadian contingent expected for the 8th Barbados Open Water Festival to be hosted in Carlisle Bay in early November.  Organizers are delighted that the three time Olympian who is a prospect for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and is currently in training at the High Performance Centre in Victoria, Canada will make her first appearance at the Festival this year. She will swim in the 1.5K and the 10K races. 
 
Steph has represented Canada on multiple occasions including: 2008, 2012, & 2016 Olympic Games, two World Championships, two World University Games, Pan Pacific Games and Pan American Games (1 Silver, 1 Bronze). The former Canadian record holder (200m) can also claim to be the first Canadian female to win an Open Water World Cup Event and the first Canadian Swimmer to have competed in the Olympics in both pool and open water disciplines.  
 
The list of Canadian Olympians who have attended the Festival grows steadily each year, many having attended with the Freestyle Experience group led by Olympian Katie Brambley.  To date: Samantha Cheverton, Tera Van Bielen, Andrea Smith, Jen Button and Martha McCabe. Andy Ritchie, a finalist in the 1976 Olympics (400IM) will have his first trip to the island this November. American Olympians Alex Meyer and Ashley Whitney as well as our home girl Olympian Lani Cabrera have also competed in the Festival.  
 
In this the "Year of the Canadians”, Mark Perry, Swimming Canada's Distance/Open Water Coach will accompany twenty-four open water swimmers hailing from all across Canada. The highly experienced Brit, Perry, previously worked for British Swimming (2006-2014). During his tenure Team GB won three medals at the 2008 Olympics, with David Davies and Keri-Anne Payne capturing Silver in the men’s and women’s 10 K marathon and Cassandra Patten taking Bronze. Perry has already experienced the Barbados Festival, having visited in 2017 as an observer. Pictured below in a Rick Pelletier photo at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Joining the Canadians will be recreational swimmers of all ages and abilities from about twenty countries from across the globe as well as our special guests this year – Cameron Bellamy (Longest Channel Swim Ever) and Jamie Monahan (Marathon swimmer and Queen of Ice Swimming!) - pictured left and right below. 
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The 8th Barbados Open Water Festival is scheduled for Nov 6-10, 2019.  Guided practice swims at three different venues (Nov 6,7,8) - informal swims of approx 2K each.  Races: Nov 9-10. 1.5K, 3.3K, 5K and 10K plus 1.5K Fun Swim in support of the Variety Club.
​ENTER NOW.

It’s exceedingly difficult to capture the essence of an incredible ultra-endurance feat such as the unprecedented Cameron Bellamy Swim from Barbados to St Lucia.  It’s an accomplishment beyond most people’s comprehension – how could it be possible to swim through 3 days and 2 nights? Cameron “Cam” Bellamy did it and was watched, every stroke of the way, by an awestruck support crew.  
 
Cam departed from St Peters Bay in Barbados at 8:18 am on Friday September 13 and touched a rocky outcrop in the scenic Moule a Chique area near Vieux Fort at 5:13 pm on Sunday September 15.  He swam a distance of 150K.  He was in the water for 56 hours and 55 minutes.  
 
He had put in the training, nine months of solid swimming and built on his 2018 foundation when he had trained to swim 90K around Barbados. Over the months in 2019 he increased his training hours to 60 hours of swimming weekly. The water literally became his office.
 
Of course, in addition to the training there was other planning and preparations that go into an independent solo marathon swim. In this case even more so being that the swim was initially planned for the Florida Straits and then changed to Barbados to St Lucia in the latter part of August.  This left only a few weeks to assemble new crew, secure a support boat and boat captain, fulfill all requirements by authorities on both islands, ship in needed items, hire medics and study the currents to ascertain start and finish points among numerous other details. Even when all was planned, unexpected weather caused the departure date to be moved forward by two days, which played havoc with some of the logistics.
 
Life on the support boat for three days was a highly unique and a truly unforgettable experience. In some ways it’s difficult to describe after the fact but one factor that is clear is the significant role of support crew in an independent solo swim, especially very long swims such as this.  The support boat was aptly named “Imagine”, the perfect name really as the story that unfolded over three days at sea was well beyond our imagination!  

Read Cam's personal account and see video HERE

Cameron used this swim to raise funds for causes close to his heart: namely the Ubunye Challenge (southern Africa), the AC Graham Development Centre in Barbados, a facility providing educational and therapy support to special needs children, and the United Through Sport charity in St Lucia, aimed at teaching children and youth to swim. For more information and to donate, please go to: https://ubunye.web.app/

Copyright © 2019 by Barbados Open Water Festival
#SwimAroundBarbados #BarbadosOpenWaterFestival #CameronsCaribbeanSwim #UbunyeChallenge

South African ultra-endurance athlete, Cameron Bellamy owns an exceptional sporting resume.  He has completed the Oceans Seven swims, rowed across the Indian Ocean and swam around the island of Barbados.  Now, after months of arduous training where he logged innumerable hours swimming every week, he is in the final days of preparation for an extreme endurance test: a 100-mile Swim across the open ocean from Barbados to St Lucia.  Bellamy's inspiration for these epic adventures is derived from his desire to raise funds for the Ubunye Challenge, a charity that provides access to education for children living in poor rural areas of South Africa and Zimbabwe. Local charities in Barbados and St. Lucia are expected to benefit from the upcoming channel swim. 
 
The initial plan for 2019 was to attempt a swim from Havana, Cuba to Key West, Florida.  Cameron put in the rigorous training, spent considerable time researching the past attempts, secured a support boat and assembled a global support crew to join him on the swim.  However, in late August, the permission required for the support boat to enter Cuban waters was denied by the US Government, based on the more stringent regulations enacted in June 2019. 
 
Despite this extremely disappointing setback, Cameron, who hasn’t given up on his Cuba swim dream, continued his “crazy” swim schedule including two recent 24-hour training swims and devised an incredible alternate plan.  Plan B: pioneering a new swim route between Barbados and St. Lucia – this will be the longest channel swim ever. The distance is about 100 miles or 160K, a comparable distance to the Cuba Swim but in Bellamy’s words: “Its trickier than the Florida Straits in myriad ways.” 

It’s been on the bucket list for a while and you have decided this is your year, to take the plunge, literally, into the crystal waters of Carlisle Bay for the Barbados Open Water Festival! What awaits you on this tiny coral island, a mere dot on most world maps? For starters, spectacular beaches and warm waters with ideal open water swim conditions on the west, southwest and some south coast locations.  Après Swim the possibilities are endless.
 
The focal point of the Festival is the magnificent Carlisle Bay, located on the south west coast a stones throw from the capital city of Bridgetown and close to many south coast hotels. Swimmers rave about the Bay; here is one of the many we have received over the years: “Think pinch yourself perfect conditions. Crystal clear waters, sandy seabed studded with starfish, dazzling groups of tropical fish darting around in front of us and at least half a dozen turtles looking up from below, bemused by our ungainly thrashing about in comparison to their effortless grace. Back on dry land, the morning’s racing was quickly giving way to a full-on Caribbean beach party and we were given a warm, genuine welcome – as long as one didn’t mind too much the locals bragging about how they get to swim the same bay every weekend. Thanks for a truly unforgettable day.”  British Swimmer. 

The Festival – Nov 6-10, 2019, 
Five days of swimming available, swim one or swim all five. Three days of practice swims (2K) with highly social dinners afterwards and two days of friendly competition (1.5K, 1.5K Just for Fun, 3.3K, 5K, 10K).  The Fun race supports the Variety Club of Barbados (Children's Charity) Beach finish for all races. Finisher Medals and Winner Medals for multiple age groups. Refreshment provided on finish line (there is a feeding boat for 10K swimmers). Home base is Copacabana Beach Bar, all races start and end in front of Bar and food and drink is on sale all weekend. See some of the 2018 photos here.

Apres Swim....
After the swimming leave time to explore the island and its amazing attractions.  There is a plethora of possibilities, here is a taste:

• Visit the rustic east coast & soak up the scenery or enjoy an authentic local beach house experience at Bath Beach House.
• Make your way to the Animal Flower Cave located in the scenic cliffs of the northern tip of the island. 
• Relax on a Catamaran cruise with lunch and snorkelling
• Explore the underground caverns of Harrisons Cave or the underwater world with Atlantis Submarines. 
• Explore the trails with EBIKE Island Adventures or stroll around exquisite tropical  gardens like Andromeda or Hunte's Gardens. 
• Wander around Bridgetown, part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, check out the parliament buildings, the Synagogue, the Cathedral,  the Screw Dock and many others.
• Learn about the art of Rum making and the island's long association with Rum.
• Visit one of the numerous historic buildings: Nicholas Abbey, Morgan Lewis Mill, George Washington House, Sunbury House are just a few.
• Have a look at the house where Rihanna grew up!
• Take a "behind the scenes" off road tour with Island Safari
• Pick up unique island souvenirs from Best of Barbados, a chain of family-owned gift shops!

Haven't booked your stay yet?
Have a look at our Partner Hotels for preferred rates, be sure to use the code when booking!

Rent a Car
Need a rental car while on island - check out the special rates for swimmers from ANSA Rentals. Tell them you are coming for Festival!

                                                              More info about Barbados, check out these sites
                         www.myguidebarbados.com     www.totallybarbados.com     www.visitbarbados.org

​                   Leave the wetsuit at home and prepare for five days of "Fun and Fabulous" !

Jaimie Monahan, a renowned ultra-marathon and ice swimmer, will make her first appearance at the Festival in 2019. The New Yorker is globally known as a “Queen of Cold Water Swimming” but can't wait to get a swim in the warmer waters of Barbados:
"I keep looking at photos of the water there and am getting way too excited – it’s still months away!"
 
Jaimie’s endless list of outstanding achievements includes: first to accomplish the Ice Sevens, numerous marathon swims including a 92K double Manhattan island swim, six marathon swims on six continents in sixteen days, winner of the inaugural International Winter Swimming Association’s World Cup and seven-time US National Winter Swimming champ. ​

Advertising Manager, Lisa Carter thanked the organizers for the opportunity to partner with them and said “In pursuit of our philosophy to give back to the community, one of our mandates is “Promoting of active lifestyles” whereby we encourage our customers, especially the kids, to participate in as many sporting and social activities as possible to foster more balanced lifestyles. Hence Chefette’s support to the Barbados Open Water Festival. 
 
Evelyn noted that without corporate support and backing by agencies such as the Tourism Development Corporation and the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. the Festival may not have survived. The event has grown with every year and currently attracts several hundred visitors to the island every November.  
 
The offerings remain the same as in 2018 with three days of practice swims and four races (1.5K, 3.3K, 5K and 10K).  Highlights will include professional timing by Sportstats, live steel pan music on the beach and numerous random prizes.  The event is scheduled for November 6-10.

​Every June the Variety Club of Barbados hosts their annual “Row for Charity” in the tranquil Carlisle Bay on the south east coast of the island. It’s a tremendous effort by the local charity with over 30 kayak teams made up of 12 members each competing in team relays.  In 2018 the Variety Club incorporated an open water swimming event into the schedule and this past weekend the Swim event attracted over 100 swimmers who participated in a relay race on four member teams. The weather wasn’t fully cooperative with intermittent rain showers during the day but this did nothing to dampen the spirits of competitors especially the numerous junior swimmers who supported the swim race.
 
The Guest of Honor at the event was Cameron Bellamy, who created history when he swam around the island last November. Cameron is currently in Barbados training towards his planned Cuba to Florida swim attempt in September. Cameron formed an association with Variety Club during his many visits ahead of the Swim Around Barbados and his charity: Ubunye Challenge donated funds to the Variety Club in the end of 2018. On the weekend young swimmers were thrilled with his presence as he started the swim race, then jumped in a kayak to monitor the swimmers on the course and handed out prizes to the winning teams. Much to the delight of spectators he then joined the “Coral Crew” kayak team comprised of several open water swimmers and contributed to their third place position with an epic finish. 

Of course, its also exceeding difficult in a small island to raise funds for charity so this makes their dedication and contribution to the local community even more impressive. Variety the Children’s Charity in Barbados is one of more than 50 ‘tents’ throughout the world, including Australia, France, Israel, USA, United Kingdom, New Zealand and South Africa.  The Barbados branch was registered in 1984 but worldwide the he Charity has been active for 80 years. The goal of the charity is to raise funds for sick, disadvantaged and disabled children in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. Learn more about the amazing work done by the Variety Club in Barbados and how you can help here: www.varietybarbados.org

​Its with great pleasure that the Barbados Open Water Festival announces that Jaimie Monahan, renowned ultra-marathon and ice swimmer will attend the 8th Festival in November 2019.  The New Yorker is globally known as a Queen of Cold Water swimming but can't wait to get a swim in the warmer waters of Barbados: "I keep looking at photos of the water there and am getting way too excited - its still 5 months away!"

Jaimie’s endless list of outstanding achievements includes: first to accomplish the Ice Sevens, numerous marathon swims including a 92K double Manhattan island swim, six marathon swims on six continents in sixteen days, winner of the inaugural International Winter Swimming Association’s World Cup and seven time US National Winter Swimming champ. Jaimie, who has attended at least seventy-five major events over the past fifteen years is known for “pioneering new swim routes” and “setting course records in some of the world’s most beautiful and iconic locations”.  

​Cameron Bellamy had a phenomenal year in 2018. First, he completed his six-year journey to swimming seven of the toughest channels in the world, earning himself the title of Oceans Seven swimmer.  Then, he created history by completing a highly complex circumnavigation of Barbados, swimming a gruelling 96K around the jagged coastline. In November 2019 the endurance athlete extraordinaire will return to Barbados for the 8th annual Festival following his planned Cuba-Florida swim attempt.    
This will be his most daunting challenge to date, an attempt to swim 103 miles from Havana, Cuba to Key West in September 2019. The incredible and almost unimaginable undertaking will require immense dedication, highly intensive training and detailed planning.
 
​If one acknowledges that open water swimming is a non-mainstream sport but one that has enjoyed exponential growth in the last decade then solo marathon swimming - a sub set of open water swimming could be described as a very small world. There are several super stars in ultra marathon swimming but they are largely unrecognized beyond the boundaries of the tight-knit, highly passionate followers of open water swimming.
 
A few have managed to break through and claim the world’s attention. Ross Edgely’s 2018 staged swim around Great Britain, which has been named the longest staged swim ever is one.  The 33-year-old adventurer covered a distance of 1780 miles, swimming up to twelve hours a day and then sleeping on his support boat.  He attracted major sponsorship from Red Bull, which perhaps is a positive sign for the sport as several solo marathon swimmers receive product sponsorship but find financial sponsorship hard to come by.

Frenchman Ben Lecomte attracted attention as well in 2018 with his plan to swim 9,100 km in a staged swim across the Pacific to bring attention to the issue of plastic in the ocean. The awesome effort had to be abandoned after a storm severely damaged his support boat.  On the other hand there are massive efforts by others in recent years such as Sarah Thomas (168 K swim), Chloe McCardel (124K swim) and Cameron’s Barbados swim that didn’t enjoy the level of recognition that they deserved.