"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.
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 but all with a shared passion for open water swimming and heart-warming camaraderie ensues. In 2019 many returning regulars are expected from the UK, Canada, USA and Trinidad. Recently the Pan Canadian Provincial Open Water Swim Team has confirmed they will attend in 2019 with twenty-four swimmers accompanied by the Canadian Distance Open Water Coach Mark Perry.
Co-Director for the event Kristina Evelyn lauded Chefette for their valued and longstanding contribution to the event which over many years has included prizes for winning swimmers, shade tents on the beach and branded items as giveaways dating back to the first Festival in 2013. In 2019 with Chefette’s support swimmers will receive unique redesigned commemorative finisher medals for all races completed and winner medals in multiple age categories.
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.