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"It was such a brilliant week.  Who fancies Barbados Open Water Festival in 2019?"

3/20/2019

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Mollie Pearse and friend at Barbados Open Water Festival 2018
"As I raced in Barbados there was the usual human enthusiasm along the shoreline and in nearby kayaks, but the added brilliance was the underwater support; turtles, star fish, beautifully bright vertebrates and a couple of unidentifiable folks too! There were several occasions on which I forgot to breathe as I stared downwards in awe. Having turtles in my spectating cheer squadwas a definite high point of the year's race season."
PictureTurtle in Carlisle Bay, Barbados. Photo: Jeremy Cole

The energy was magic. People had traveled from all over the globe for this festival; Canadian’s escaping the harsh winter, including several Olympians, fellow Brits keen to experience the glorious waters, a Brazilian lady who had come alone, the Irish contingent, identifiable by their beaming smiles…19 nations were represented.

In 2018 Mollie Pearse of the UK  ventured to Barbados for the Open Water Festival.  After she wrote a detailed account of her trip, excerpts of which have been reposted here with her permission. 

The BOWF is 5 days of swimming paradise. There are 3 guided swims, all about 2K and at different locations around the Island. These guided, gentle swims are followed by a weekend of racing; Saturday was 1.5km with a race or fun option and Sunday was an option of a 10K, 5K or 3.3kK race. All swimming took place in the incredibly blue, aquarium-like waters of Barbados. This was the 7th year of the festival and it was no surprise to hear that the participation had grown from 12 people to well over 400 this year.
 
Swim 1: We arrived at Copacabana beach, Carlisle bay, for our first guided swim. The music was pumping, and the beach area was teeming with swimmers and supporters. The swimmers also showcased an exceptional number of aquatic achievements on their heads, in an impressive rainbow of silicon swim hats…like the adult version of the badges you got as a child. Only instead of a 25m badge, these caps displayed channel crossings, cold water swims in Russia and even Olympic triumphs. It was very impressive and made for a great conversation starter when we were bobbing up and down in the water. Although the achievements held adult status, the buzz and energy held a childlike enthusiasm – it was utterly brilliant.

The first swim route was an ordinary ‘out and back’, but the route is where the ordinary ended. As soon as we stepped in to the tropically warm waters we were in for a treat; the waters were as clear as glass, teeming with sea life that David Attenborough would have been envious of. I was smiling like a small child, so incredibly overcome with joy that I was swimming in such a location! So, we swam, we stopped and chatted, we met some fascinating souls from around the globe and then we swam back to shore.I was once again awestruck by the natural beauty. Every breath I took to my left gave me a glimpse of the impressive sun that was setting in a phenomenal fashion on the horizon. I was in my happy place.
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Swimmers gather at Carlisle Bay for practice swim in 2018.
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Start for Practice Swim 2
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Starfish commonly sighted on swims.
Swimmers gathering at Barbados Open Water Festival 2018
One of the race days 2018
Swim 2
Swim two started at Port St Charles Yacht Club. The waters were lovely, less activity than Carlisle bay, but the boat life alone gave more than enough to look at!

Swim 3
The third guided swim was a new adventure. Although Mother Nature was having a moody afternoon, the scenes below the water line remained stunning with Turtles cruising along the ocean bed without a moment’s bother for the 200 swimmers above them.  Having spent the previous evening at a luxurious yacht club, day 3 saw our post swim refuel at a street market. If you are looking for energy on a Friday night in Barbados, head to Oistins, the small town came alive with cracking music, multiple BBQs and hordes of people. We all settled into plastic tables and chairs, fortuitously for us we were under a marquee, which proved invaluable when the heavens opened for a torrential storm. The hordes squeezed themselves under the 2 inches of marquee, similar to the Victoria Line at rush hour! A downpour is no issue for a group of swimmers though, within moments the rain had stopped, and everyone whipped out their towels to dry their chairs. Problem solved.

Race Time.
The week was to conclude with two races; 1.5km on Saturday and 5km on Sunday. 
Race 1: Once I finally got going and into my rhythm it was gorgeous. I had the time to look down and admire the sea life. The wrecks and small reefs were teeming with fish, it was like they’d all got up for their Saturday morning chores, going about their duties with a business-like fashion. I chuckled to myself and simultaneously swallowed a mouthful of sea water…keep your mouth closed, Pearse! 
Race 2:  5K. The swim was incredible, I felt strong and I had my own turtle support crew. They were just chilling, easy like Sunday morning as I powered my way around the three laps. On lap two I spied a menacing cloud on the horizon, which by lap three was torrential rain. I struggled to confirm whether it was actually raining until the drops were bouncing down around me and off of my face. It was unique swimming mid storm… luckily there was no lightning, just waves!  I came out of the swim thrilled with my time and I had come in second in my age category. Not bad for a holiday. It was such a brilliant week. 
 
Every trip I go on, I realize something about myself. Either a new revelation or just confirmation. In this case it was unwavering confirmation that the ocean and beautiful sunsets bring me incredible amounts of happiness. It is nothing flashy, mother nature just has the ability to reset my busy mind and recharge me in a very short space of time.  I must work on the move to the seaside!  
Happiness is as simple as sunsets and swimming.  Who fancies BOWF in 2019??

​Enter the Barbados Open Water Festival here: 
Enter Now         
​Watch a Festival video: 2018 Video
​Read Mollie Pearse's story in its entirety here: Click Here
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Less about Finishing, More about Enjoying!

2/6/2019

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adapted from Jen Stokes account of her 10K swim at the 2018 Barbados Open Water Festival

PictureJen (right) being congratulated by a friend after her 10K finish
​I signed up for the 1.5K and 10K at the Barbados Open Water Festival in 2018. After my failed 10K attempt this past summer, I really wanted to give it another go. By the end of the week at the Freestyle Experience camp in Barbados, I felt ready physically, but mentally, quite unsure.  A friend said: think of the swim as 4 hours in the open water, and the privilege of spending that much time in the water. I’m slow, my technique needs a lot of TLC. I was feeling very unsure.

"I was nervous I wouldn’t make the 10 km in the time allotment of 4 hours but after meeting the other swimmers and openly sharing those fears I felt much more relaxed. It was less about finishing the 10 K, and more about enjoying the open water."
 

Despite all the above, those little doubt gremlins were present in the first 2 km. I focused hard, yet still struggled to connect it all.
My coach, Katie, came upon me at one point and dolphin tailed a hello of encouragement, volunteers on paddleboards and boats shouted and the feeding boat peeps entertained with smiles and quick conversations. My #1 fan Elaine trailed the beach waving and shouting. Other swimmers passed by with way to go’s and check-ins. I was even able to hear Cameron Bellamy’s send off as he started his 96K swim around the island.  I studied the ocean floor. I enjoyed the starfish, sea urchins, fish, turtles and stingrays. I envisioned the future while I enjoyed the present in the warm ocean water.

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4.5 laps into the six-lap race I asked Darren, a supporting kayaker for the time. Knowing I had to be close to 4 hours. It was 10:55am, the race started at 7am. I asked him if I could finish this lap or did I have to exit? He said go ahead and finish the lap. As I approached the last buoy before the exit I knew I had only completed 5 and was out of time. I was content to walk gracefully out of the water. It had been wavy, raining off and off during the swim and started back up again. I was also the last person in the water. As much as I wanted to finish that last lap, I didn’t want to ask the volunteers, and race official to hold up the boating activity and day’s events for me. I respect what it takes to organize 400 plus swimmers and was more than ok with my time in the water. Katie, however in true amazing coaching style asked for me. They allowed me to finish, Katie told me if I wanted to finish I was invited to. I was thrilled and excited to hear this news! Oh, it gets better. Heather offered to pace me for the last lap. Darren offered to guide us along. The ¼ way in the last lap, the rain poured down. I embraced the struggle, smiled at Heather and sighted for Darren. I can’t explain the deep feelings of appreciation during that last lap. I didn’t know it at the time, but Heather was suffering from a migraine, imagine that and yet she paced me through. I swam with such joy, sang in my head, my heart smiled one stroke at a time as I reached the finish line.  My heartfelt thanks to Barbados Open Water Swimming Festival, my coach Katie Brambley as well as all of my other swim friends who offered support. 

BOWF: Well done Jen. Your story defines what the Barbados Open Water Festival is all about. We are thrilled to hear that since the Festival you have joined a Master's program in Canada and plan to swim all year! See you in November 2019 at the 8th annual Festival.

Many thanks also to our volunteer kayaker Darren Treasure (Open Water Swimmer & President of the Barbados Federation of Island Triathletes (BFIT) for going the extra mile and staying in the water until the last swimmer finished!

Barbados Open Water Festival: Nov 6-10, 2019.  Entry is open online now.
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2018 Barbados Open Water Festival: A Look Back!

12/20/2018

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"OMG, we had fun. Fantastic event, well organised, wonderful beach, beautiful blue water, great for swimming. A brilliant event, best Open Water event in the Caribbean."
Barbados Open Water Festival 2018



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Cameron Bellamy, swim around Barbados start
Barbados Open Water Festival 2018 Medals

2018 Barbados Open Water Festival
2018 Barbados Open Water Festival



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Ceri Edwards (centre) Barbados Open Water Festival winner.
Neosi Dunwoody (centre) 10 K winner at Barbados Open Water Festival
Its difficult to adequately describe in words the heart warming camaraderie when open water swimmers get together. Its witnessed annually at the Barbados Open Water Festival when a diverse mix of swimmers of all ages and abilities arrive from all over the world and five days of “fun and fabulous” begins! As Rachel (who classed her group as “completors” not “competers”!) from the UK wrote, “We met some great people from the UK in our most exotic swim destination yet who we will be meeting up to swim in their local river and and they will join us for a sea swimming initiation, that’s what its all about”. Ocean Junction.com recently described the event as "one of the most vibrant open water events to take place in the Western Hemisphere - a must-attend for open water enthusiasts!"

As usual the swimmers came from everywhere! Swimmers were welcomed from as far away as Singapore and South Africa.  Many visited from all over the United Kingdom and Europe, United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and neighbouring Caribbean islands. 
Hundreds took 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 in November 2018. The Fun Swim once again raised funds for Variety: The Children’s Charity.

The 7th annual Festival also featured the historic start of the successful 96K swim around Barbados by Cameron Bellamy of South Africa (pictured). It was his second attempt in 8 weeks and to the delight of scores who saw the start and the thousands who tracked his progress online he completed the swim an incredible 40 hours and 43 minutes later.  Its been declared the fourth longest solo unassisted sea swim ever. Cameron’s new plan: swimming from Cuba to Florida during the summer of this year! He also plans to return to the Barbados Open Water Festival in 2019. 

The Festival "upped its game" in 2018 with the introduction of professional timing by Sportstats, newly designed finisher medals, premium silicon Vorgee caps for each of the four races, numerous random prizes and live steel pan music.

There were several standout performances at the 2018 event. Nikoli Blackman of Trinidad (pictured centre on podium) roared to victory in both the 1.5K and 5K races. Ceri Edwards, the 2017 UK Masters champ over 1.5K had an impressive win in the ladies field and second overall in the 1.5K and came back the following day to win the Ladies 10K. Former Canadian competitive swimmer and 2011 World Championship Bronze medallist Martha McCabe cruised home in the 3.3K while another Canadian, 14 year old Ethan Campbell topped the Men’s field in that race. Teenager Carolyn Pennington of New York claimed the Ladies 5K.  For the first time, a Barbadian swimmer, Nkosi Dunwoody, was victorious in the 10K. 

Dennis
 Vanderheiden
and "Athletes in Tandem" deserves a special mention for attending the Festival for the second time and allowing two differently abled Barbadian athletes the opportunity to take part in the swim races. 

Special awards recognized achievements by local swimmers: Rick Peters won the Jonathan Morgan Memorial Trophy  and Nkosi Dunwoody copped the Chris & Peter Gibbs Trophy.

The 2019 event is scheduled for Nov 6-10.  

The event would not be possible without the support of sponsors such as title sponsor: ANSA Rentals and other sponsors: Vorgee, Chefette Restaurants, Tourism Development Corporation, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc, Powerade, Dasani, Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association and CGM Gallagher.  

​See all results for the Barbados Open Water Festival  HERE

​#BarbadosOpenWaterFestival #ANSARentals #openwaterswimming
Barbados Open Water Festival 2018
Barbados Open Water Festival 2018
Barbados Open Water Festival 2018
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Cameron Bellamy Swim Around Barbados - 4th longest ever!

11/17/2018

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Cameron Bellamy ready to start SwimAroundBarbados 2
Cameron Bellamy of South Africa has become the first person in history to complete the highly complex swim around the island of Barbados. His unprecedented swim began on Sunday November 11 at about 11:20 am.  Hundreds of swimmers from around the world were already at the Carlisle Bay start as they were taking part in the annual Barbados Open Water Festival.  There was an atmosphere of great excitement on the beach as they gathered with many other interested onlookers to cheer him on.  Unbelievably, he swam for almost 41 hours and completed the 96K swim at 4:06 am on Tuesday November 13. According to the Marathon Swimming Federation there are only three documented non-stop, unassisted sea swims in history that have been longer than Cameron Bellamy's incredible swim around Barbados!

The seemingly impossible feat of swimming all the way around the island of Barbados by the South African will be remembered forever by all who witnessed the accomplishment. His is a highly unique and unbelievable story dating back to his first "long swim" across the English Channel in 2012.  Swimming this channel, after only one year of swimming, should perhaps have been an indicator of the great moments that would follow in his open water swimming life. In June 2018 Bellamy completed the challenging Oceans Seven swims and joined an elite group of only 11 swimmers to have completed the seven toughest channels.  Even before completing the Oceans Seven he already had his sights set on swimming around Barbados and had begun training in earnest. 
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On September 7, 2018, Bellamy set out on his first attempt to swim around Barbados.  He spent 27 hours in the water and swam 66K, from Pebbles Beach on the south west coast to Animal Flower Cave on the north coast via the Atlantic facing East coast. After 24 hours in the water, a shift in the winds and adverse currents off River Bay caused conditions that were exceedingly difficult. He dug deep for another three hours and made it past River Bay to the Cave where he aborted the swim, realising that he still had the "distance of the English Channel" to complete the circumnavigation. Exhausted and with sore shoulders and suffering with a highly painful "salt mouth" he returned to his hotel, admitting that the swim - around the jagged coastline, battling tough conditions on the south east and north coasts including back wash from the cliffs - was more difficult than he expected.  

​He had put up a great fight and surpassed previous attempts by about 40K. Local swimmers and the community in general were in awe of his attempt even though he hadn't reached the finish line he had set for himself.  However, his tenacious nature was apparent when about 24 hours after the first attempt he announced he would try again. "I am the fittest I have ever been and now I know what I have to do to make it all the way around".  He travelled to Australia, intensified his training and applied a more specific and scientific approach to his training regimen in the waters off the Gold Coast. He swam up to nine hours a day and focused on maintaining a target heart rate among other goals.
Cameron Bellamy SwimAroundBarbados 2018
Just over 8 weeks after his first attempt Bellamy returned to the island in early November to await a "weather window": a period of at least two days when the wind and sea conditions would be favourable.  Many in the local community were doubtful that November would provide the needed conditions given that the wind speeds are generally higher in this month and sea conditions unpredictable with a much greater probability of "north swells" causing difficult conditions. Swimmers, boaters and surfers all expressed concern that it would be nearly impossible to "get around North point" and the "south-east coast will be too choppy" and the "sea conditions bad".  But Cameron Bellamy pressed on with his plan and with the assistance of various online wind models identified Nov 11-13 as the window to swim.

The support crew consisting of about 30 core volunteers acting as kayakers, feeders, observers and boat captains, along with  paramedics were assembled. An entourage of eight boats was utilised at different times over "four legs" of the swim. The conditions were not as favourable as the September 2018 attempt and even as he started the swim, on Sunday November 11, a squall passed over the south of the island bringing heavy rainfall, wind and choppy seas. 
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Well, needless to say, Cameron Bellamy, a man who exemplifies the very definition of perseverance, fought through wind and bumpy water on the south, literally ploughed through huge waves in the Kittridge Point/Ragged Point areas of the south-east and continued up the Atlantic facing East coast.  When he reached his "nemesis" from the first attempt - the North Coast - conditions were extremely challenging - large swells caused him to detour out to sea to avoid being washed up on the rocky cliffs of the North. Totally focused and maintaining a similar stroke rate throughout he defeated the unforgiving North coast and entered calmer waters on the north west coast of the island.  Flagging a bit at this point he had to draw on his steely resolve and the positive energy of his highly supportive crew to keep moving along the west coast. ​In forty plus hours this was the only point where he said, "I had a few negative thoughts".  Throughout the duration of the swim, he never faltered, taking the time to give a thumbs up and thank-you to volunteers as shifts changed and new support crew took over (pictured below).
Cameron Bellamy - SwimAroundBarbados 2018
News of his success in rounding the North Point spread like wildfire on the island and across the globe where thousands were following his progress by live tracking.  Social media exploded with enormous numbers of shares, likes and comments on the posts updating his progress and excitement grew that this time he would make the finish line. Twelve hours later Bellamy swam past the wall of the Deep Water Harbour in the island's capital city of Bridgetown and swam across Carlisle Bay to his starting point in front of the Copacabana Beach Bar.  A large and jubilant crowd, many of whom had tracked him continuously over the two days of his swim, welcomed him as he erupted from the water and walked up the beach. He had done it. He never let up, he maintained his focus all the way and history has been created. Cameron Bellamy swam around Barbados!

​This highly talented, totally dedicated, endurance athlete uses his incredible abilities to raise funds for a children's charity - The Ubunye Challenge. Cameron Bellamy's next endurance adventure?  Swimming from Cuba to Florida in September 2019. Follow his story here: CLICK
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Copyright © 2018 by Barbados Open Water Festival
#SwimAroundBarbados #BarbadosOpenWaterFestival
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Cameron Bellamy returning for Barbados Open Water Festival

10/26/2018

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Cameron Bellamy for Barbados Open Water Festival
 Swimmers from all over the world will converge on the island of Barbados in early November for the 7th Barbados Open Water Festival in Carlisle Bay. Since inception the Festival has hosted Olympians, World Champions, Masters Swim Champions, World Record Holders, Junior Champions, Pan Am Medallists and scores of recreational swimmers from all over the world. Festival organizers, together with title sponsor, ANSA Rentals, are delighted to announce that their specially invited guest for 2018 will be Cameron Bellamy, the first Oceans Seven Swimmer to attend the Festival.  Only eleven people in the world can claim to be part of the elite group of swimmers who have completed swims across seven of the toughest channels in the world. 
 
Cameron Bellamy is practically a household name in Barbados, after his unprecedented attempt to swim 91K around the island in September 2018. He swam for 27 hours, covering an incredible 66K, just about two thirds of the distance.  Although he didn’t reach the finish line his swim was an amazing feat given that there are only a handful of people in the world that can swim continuously for more than 24 hours.

The swim created such intrigue globally that the ​capacity of the tracking software was frequently exceeded during the swim. In addition, thousands watched video clips, shared photos, commented and liked on social media.  Its incredible to note that Bellamy didn't travel to Barbados with an entourage - no physios, trainers or nutritionists - just a few enthusiastic family members. His support staff during the attempt was comprised of local volunteers. Since the first attempt (aka #SwimAroundBarbados), the South African has increased the intensity of his already gruelling training, often spending in excess of nine hours swimming daily. He intends to make a second attempt in the near future. 
 
Bellamy will be joined at the Barbados Festival by swimmers from at least 15 other countries. Previous multiple time winner, American Eney Jones, as well as last year’s 3.3K winner Nikoli Blackman of Trinidad will be on the start lines. Nikoli, who recently won the Maracas Bay 3K Open Water in Trinidad, has been attending the Festival since 2013 when he was only eight years old.  Well-known open water swimmer, Bill Ireland of California, who has competed in open water swimming events for the past 48 years, logging participation in over 400 events across the world will return again after debuting here in 2017.  Rick Peters, the three-time winner of the Jonathan Morgan Memorial Trophy for highest placed Barbadian Masters Swimmer in the 5K and a participant in every Festival since the inaugural event in 2013 will defend his title. Several competitive junior swimmers from US, Canada and Barbados are expected to challenge the many experienced Masters swimmers.  

Kristina Evelyn, a Director of the growing Festival, said she was very pleased that ANSA Rentals had partnered with the locally owned yet globally recognized event in 2018. "We commend ANSA Rentals for joining with us and supporting this healthy lifestyle event that is playing a role not only in community building on the island but helping to enhance Barbados’ sports tourism offering. Their support has enabled us to introduce professional timing for the first time.” Sportstats, a leading international timing company, will be on the finish line. The company is contracted to time over one thousand races in 24 countries in 2018.
Also new this year is the finisher "bling" that swimmers will be able to collect at the end of the race and numerous random prizes donated by local companies that will be awarded during the weekend. 
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Barbados Open Water Festival Medals 2018
The Festival, a significant sports tourism project on the Barbados calendar, has grown every year since 2013. In 2017,   80% of the 625 entries across four races was visiting swimmers and the upcoming event is on track to record even higher entry numbers from visitors. A large percentage of the visitors hail from all across the USA, Canada and the UK but in 2018 for the first time swimmers will be welcomed from from Wales, Switzerland, Argentina, Singapore, South Africa and Nicaragua.  Swimmers are also returning from England, Ireland, Brazil, Trinidad, Antigua and Germany. A marked increase has been noted in participation in the highly social guided practice swims (Nov 7-9) and a presentation by Cameron Bellamy on November 7 is sure to attract many local and visiting swimmers.

The Barbados Open Water Festival (Nov 7-11) offers races over four distances: 1.5K, 3.3K, 5K and a 10K.  Additionally, for those swimmers who do not wish to race or be timed there is a 1.5K “Just For Fun” Swim in aid of “Variety – The Children’s Charity”.  Swimmers can enter online or at the local Aquatic Centre and entry closes on November 6. ​​All races start and end in front of the trendy Copacabana Beach Bar. Spectators are welcome ! #BarbadosOpenWaterFestival
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Cameron Bellamy: I will definitely be back to try again!

9/11/2018

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 Photo: Kristina Evelyn                                                                                           Photo: Track RS
Courtesy of Daily News of Open Water Swimming   

After achieving the Oceans Seven in June 2018, Cameron Bellamy found himself in the midst of another challenge against Mother Nature: a Swim Around Barbados, a 96 km circumnavigation attempt that three people have attempted but none have finished.

Kristina Evelyn of the Barbados Open Water Festival says, "Cameron is generating huge interest among open water swimmers and the community in general here in Barbados." 

Bellamy expected the swim to take him 36 hours or more. After over 27 hours and 66 km, he had covered the rougher east and north coasts that face the Atlantic Ocean where strong and unpredictable currents are well-known along that side of Barbados. The locals actually consider that area of the island unswimmable. But Bellamy got through the rough part. The aquatic Renaissance Man said upon calling it a day and night, "After 27 hours and 66 km of swimming, I realized I didn’t have enough left in me for another 35 km, basically the English Channel length. What an amazing swim and adventure though." 

Kristina Evelyn said about Bellamy, "He knew it was a highly complex swim, but he wasn't deterred. He put in the gruelling training. His planning was meticulous. He inspired every member of his support team.  He swam for 27 hours. As he approached the north, increasing wind and adverse currents made for extremely difficult conditions off River Bay. He continued the fight for a few hours and made it to the Animal Flower Cave on the northern tip of the island. He gave it his all, but called it a day just about 10 pm on Saturday night. An incredible and outstanding effort."

Despite his DNF this time, Bellamy vowed to return, "I will definitely be back to try again." Bellamy will also return to the island
in November for the7th annual Barbados Open Water Festival. 

His swim benefitted the Ubunye Challenge, a charity he founded in 2011, that makes contributions to early childhood education in poverty stricken regions of South Africa and Zimbabwe. For more information on Ubunye Challenge, visit here.

Enter the 2018 Barbados Open Water Festival  Enter Online 
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Locals Fascinated by Cameron Bellamy's Planned "Swim Around Barbados"

8/15/2018

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Cameron Bellamy trains in Barbados 2018
​Cameron Bellamy’s attempt at swimming around Barbados is just a few weeks away and the highly anticipated event is causing a huge stir among the passionate swimmers and the wider community on the island. It’s estimated that about 70% of the population in Barbados are not proficient swimmers so the notion of someone swimming 96K around the island is mind-boggling to most of the residents.  Many people on the island will clearly remember older relatives warning them in their childhood: “the sea has no back-door” and this folklore possibly contributed to the general apprehension of swimming in the sea that still exists today.
 
The growing interest is further fuelled by the disbelief that anyone would try to swim along the east and north coasts that face the Atlantic Ocean, due to the strong and unpredictable currents along that side of the island. Countless Barbadians consider these coasts to be “non-swimmable”. Local open water swimmers generally swim along the south or west coasts where there are ideal open water swimming conditions. 
 
The Oceans Seven Swimmer who hails from South Africa is well aware of the mammoth undertaking that lies ahead of him. It could be the longest swim of his life and it’s a feat that has never been accomplished by a solo, unassisted swimmer. In fact it seems the high level of difficulty, including 36+ hours in warm water, the expected ocean currents and the distance, are what has motivated him to undertake this complex challenge. The thirty-six year old Bellamy has been training for the Barbados swim for over a year and recently drew much attention along the island’s coasts with his arduous program of training swims ranging from 8 hours to 16 hours almost daily with a twenty-four hour swim before he departed.  He has thoroughly enjoyed his swimming in Barbados commenting that many of his swims are in dark, cold water and likening the warmer clear Barbados waters to that of an aquarium, where he has sighted many turtles, a sting ray, tropical fish and beautiful corals during his swims.
 
In addition to the endurance challenge of this and previous swims, Bellamy’s adventures serve a greater purpose and this is raising funds for children’s education.  Growing up in Cape Town, South Africa, it was evident to Cameron, on a daily basis, that he was privileged.  Throughout his childhood, he saw children his own age on the street, not attending school and this memory stayed with him. He attended Rhodes University in the Eastern Cape, which is the most underdeveloped area of South Africa and during this time he grew to love the region and its people.  After completing a Masters Degree in Queensland, Australia and working in investment banking in Bejing, Cameron set off on his first endurance expedition - a solo cycling trip over four months and a distance of 6,500 km through Western China, Central Asia and India. The innumerable hours on the bike led him on a journey of self-reflection and laid the foundation for the Ubunye Challenge, the charity he founded in 2011.  The organization has made a significant contribution to early childhood education in poverty stricken regions of South Africa and Zimbabwe.
 
Over the past several months Bellamy has endeared himself to many on the island of Barbados with his modest and friendly personality.  Despite his relentless training schedules when visiting he has met with and inspired many young competitive and recreational swimmers, swam with numerous local masters swimmers and visited with representatives of children’s charities (Variety Club and Bright Water Kids) which he intends to support.  Behind the unassuming façade is a guy with two Guinness World Records, who can converse in Mandarin, has rowed the Indian Ocean, founded a highly successful charity before age thirty, swam the Oceans Seven and who is the CEO of a cyber security firm in San Francisco. 
 
When he returns to Barbados in late August to attempt his swim around Barbados its expected that a plethora of Barbadians, swimmers and non-swimmers, will give him a rousing send-off, view his progress online and from numerous vantage points around the island while earnestly hoping for an epic outcome. Whether he makes it or not he has already made a lasting impression on the community and given open water swimming on the island a massive boost. He has already made plans to return to the island in November to swim in the Barbados Open Water Festival, much to the delight of Festival regulars! Follow  #SwimAroundBarbados for updates and live tracking of the swim attempt. Learn more about the charities that will benefit: SwimAroundBarbados for Charity.

Cameron Bellamy, Barbados, July 2018.
Cameron Bellamy & junior swimmers in Barbados. Photo: Carol Ann Gollop.
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Barbados Open Water Festival partners with Vorgee

7/13/2018

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Verge and Barbados Open Water Festival form partnership. 2018.
The Barbados Open Water Festival will partner with the internationally known aquatic brand Vorgee for its upcoming event in November 2018. BOWF organisers are delighted with the new deal which includes Vorgee providing their premium reinforced seam silicon caps as the official cap for each of the four races at the Festival.   Additionally, they will donate multiple random prizes for the swimmers.  Vorgee, an Australian owned and managed company, was established in 2005 and is an all-encompassing aquatics company, offering products for those getting into a pool for the first time through to the competitive swimmer.  The company takes its social responsibility seriously and has developed custom product ranges to promote and support important causes such as the National Breast Cancer Foundation and the national Kids Alive Do the Five Water Safety Program. 

The 7th Barbados Open Water Festival will take place on November 7-11, 2018.  The five day schedule offers three days with informal practice swims (2K) at three open water locations and two days of races (Nov 10-11) in Carlisle Bay. 1.5K, 3.3K, 5K and 10K plus a Just for Fun 1.5K for charity.  Swimmers can swim all five days or choose just one day. Learn more or enter online here: BOWF Website
Barbados Open Water Festival 2017













Swimmers  gathering ahead of a 2017 race in Carlisle Bay, Barbados.

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Successful Swim of English Channel - Diego Lopez

7/7/2018

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Diego Lopez at Barbados Open Water Festival
Congratulations to Diego Lopez for his July 7 swim across the English Channel. According to the Channel Swimming Association he completed the crossing in 11 hours and four minutes. Diego competed with us at the Barbados Open Water Festival in 2017 and was the second placed male in the 10K in Carlisle Bay. 
 
The thirty six year old, a native of the Canary Islands, has an impressive resume of open water swims.  During 2018 he aims to becoming the first person ever to complete a major, iconic, challenging race in each of the seven continents including Rottnest Channel (OZ), Robben Island (ZA), Lake Titicaca (BV), English Channel (UK), Catalina Channel (US), Clean Half (HK) and Ice KM in Antarctica.  Follow Diego's progress here: global swimmer.com.

In August 2017 Diego completed the circumnavigation of Manhattan (48k) in the 11th fastest time ever and the fastest by a Spaniard. He has already completed open water swim races in 15 countries claiming podium positions in all. 
 
Diego swims with a purpose: keeping the waters clean of plastic waste.  He raises  money for Ocean Recovery Alliance, a USA / Hong Kong non-profit with extensive experience in fighting plastic waste in oceans, rivers and lakes.

Read more about Diego Lopez and his Continents Seven swims here: SwimSwam

The 2018 Barbados Open Water Festival is scheduled for Nov 7-11. Visit our web site for more info. 

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Barbados Open Water Festival “Regular” recognized by USMS

7/2/2018

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Ed Tsuzuki is a regular at the Barbados Open Water Festival
Ed Tsuzuki, Susan Kirk, Sarah Clark and Eney Jones in Barbados at swim festival.




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United States Masters Swimmer Ed Tsuzuki recieved the 2018 Captain Ransom J Arthur Award from United States Masters Swimming in recognition of his tireless volunteer work.  The award goes annually to the volunteer who has done the most to further the objectives of Masters Swimming.

A recent article in "Swimmer" (Kristina Henry) noted’ “Ed doesn’t sit still”. Now retired from Johnson & Johnson, Ed indulges in his favourite hobbies of swimming, coaching swimming and volunteering for swimming among others. Although a self-described "late starter" to swimming Ed has swum over 4000 miles in his 25 years of Masters Swimming. 

 
Ed is a regular at the Barbados Open Water Festival (BOWF) along with other members of the Tsuzuki clan! Pictured above with regulars Susan Kirk and Sarah Clark (known as the Jersey Girls!) and Eney Jones.  At left finishing a race and below one of several podium finishes!

Congratulations Ed on receiving this recognition! Read more about Ed and the award here: 2018-capt-ransom-j-arthur-award-recipient-ed-tsuzuki
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    Kristina Evelyn - Barbadian & Festival organizer. Enjoys promoting open water swimming in Barbados & meeting open water swimmers from all over the world.

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