​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.

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.

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. 
​
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).

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

 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. 
​

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.

 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 

​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.

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

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.