What the Swimmers Say.....
Every year swimmers write us lovely thank you emails or make wonderful comments on our social media. Every message is read and appreciated. Below a few of these messages are shared from various years during the life of the Festival.
Happy Swimers - 2019 Barbados Open Water Festival
"I only did two of the ocean open water swims, but it was an absolutely magical new experience. I saw sea turtles, starfish, coral, multi-coloured fish—so much more interesting than the black line at the bottom of the pool. And the benefits of buoyancy in salt water were not lost on me either!" Andrea Douglas, Canada. I am hoping to make a return this year. Such an amazing experience at the swim festival in 2018. Roger. Wales. 2020. “You know we just LOVE this festival. It's what inspired us to launch our first Freestyle Experience Retreat in Barbados. And the organization and organizers are AMAZING. If you love swimming, you will love this festival. It's the best week of our year. Katie, Ottawa, 2019. 4th visit. I’d like to thank you for organising this event. I thoroughly enjoyed being in Barbados, not only the open water swimming opportunities, seeing Cameron Bellamy, but the scuba diving, meeting new friends, visiting other tourist spots, the food and, of course, the Barbados weather (certainly different to the UK). Hopefully I’ll join next year’s Barbados swim. Thank you! Debbie, Wales, 2018. Thank youuuuu for so amazing event from Brazil. Helena Martins. Brazil 2018. It was wonderful and I am recommending the Barbados Open Water Festival to anyone who asks. Bill Ireland, USA, 2018. The BOWF was a fantastic 5 days of guided swims and races with the swimming community from around the world. I completed the 10K in Barbados When the swimming got tough it was made so much easier by watching the turtles, rays and colourful fish swim by. I class our group as completors rather than competers! It was our most exotic destination yet! Rachel, UK, 2018. OMG, we had fun. Fantastic event, well organized wonderful beach beautiful blue water, great for swimming. A brilliant event, best Open Water event in the Caribbean." Bertram, Trinidad, 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. The energy was magic. People had travelled from all over the globe for this festival; Canadians 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. The BOWF is 5 days of swimming paradise. Who fancies BOWF in 2019??" Mollie Pearse (UK) Scott and Sheila Parker (Canada) Zary and team, Thank you both for hosting such a great swimming event again this year. This truly has become a yearly highlight for our family and look forward to returning for many more. Please share our sincere thanks to you and all the volunteers from our Saskatchewan family. Thanks again until next time! Beatrice Thompson – Love this event. I had soooo much fun in 2017. Trying to do it again. Bill Ireland (USA) - A great event. Thanks for your hospitality Chris Coburn (USA) – I loved this place and the festival! Zary and team put on an outstanding event. Between the practice swims, the races, the outings and just plain exploring the island, I met lots of new people and had many excellent adventures with new and old friends. I really hope to be back in 2018. Gail Urquhart (Trinidad) – Fantastic event. Roger Lines (Scotland) – I will be back for sure. A brilliant event. Nice friendly people from all over the globe. 2017. Susan Kirk (USA)- Thank you SwimBarbados Vacations for another amazing #BOWF event!!! We had an absolute blast!! Sarah Clark and I are super excited that we will be coming back again in 2018!! Dawn McKenna (UK) - Thoroughly loved our first open water swimming experience in Barbados and proud of our placings too! Thank you for hosting such a fantastic event. Looking forward to returning next year. Natalie Pacquet (Canada) - I 'm anxious to be with you guys in 2018...it will be the second time with my fabulous team from Baie-Comeau QC Beth Schiller (USA) - Just booked my flight and hotel yesterday for 2018 event. Already looking forward to another awesome Barbados open water festival! This past week I traveled down to Barbados for the Barbados Open Water Festival. With races now in all corners of the world, we at the Global Swim Series don’t get a chance to make it to all the fantastic races on the schedule, but we were fortunate enough to make it down this year for the Barbados Open Water Festival… and it was incredible! In four short years the Barbados Open Water Festival has turned into a major event on the open water swim circuit and now having experienced it, it is easy to see why! Rob Kent (L.O.S.T, Canada) Thank you. It was wonderful. Just booked my flight to return! Early 2017 Christmas present! (USA) The. Best. Ever. (Eney Jones, Colorado, USA) My husband Tim an I can't thank you enough for putting on such a great event. The volunteers were the real heroes that day, especially given the weather. We just got back to Toronto tonight and are already missing the Barbados and all the lovely people we met. Hopefully we'll be back next year. And faster lol! (Andrea, Toronto) Absolutely brilliant BOWF event once again!!! I love sharing this special swimming adventure with our fellow open water swimmers from around the world and meeting fabulous new friends each year!! Thank you Zary and all of your volunteers for all that you do to make the BOWF such a spectacular success for all!!! You can count on us for next year...the hotel room is already booked!! Until then....happy swimming always!!! (USA) Will start making my arrangements now! Another amazing week in Beautiful Barbados. Great locations, amazing organization and support, and wonderful friends with a shared passion to enjoy it with. Doesn't get much better than that. Already counting the days until next year. Thanks again! Congrats ..Zary and team ..despite the weather challenge you still made it a great success. (William, Barbados) Absolutely .... speechless ...woaw ! We had more than a great time ! Thanks from the group of Quebec Baie-Comeau to your organisation it was a great success ! Everything was fabulous ! Thanks Zary and team!! All team are happy !! (Quebec, CANADA) As I leave Barbados I am just in bliss reflecting on all the amazing people I got to meet and spend some time with. Oh yeah and that blue water! Thank you to Zary and team for an amazing week! Kristin (California) Some of the most fun I have ever had on a swimcation!! Great swimming and fun with friends old and new. Kimberley (USA)
What a fun swim vacation we had in Barbados with swimmers from all over the world! I would highly recommend the trip. The practise swims were really fun in different locations on the island and were paired with dinner afterward and transportation. The organizers were excellent and the swims were beyond my expectations. Loved swimming with the turtles in beautiful Carlisle Bay. Mairi (L.O.S.T Swimming, Canada)
Thanks again for a fantastic swim fest. Erin (Vancouver)
This was a great event. I'd encourage anyone thinking of doing an open water event to do this one. Kathy (Florida)
I would like to thank you both for once again putting on one Spectacular swimming event! This Swim Festival is run { Flawless}... the event and all volunteers know exactly what they are doing every step of the way.
Every one I talked to loved the two days of Swim competition/ 1.5 km Sat. and 5km on Sunday.... we thought it was great to have two events to take part in on that beautiful course ! As I stated ...every detail of this event is laid out with such Precision... who would not return for the 4th time...... we plan on it!!! Read that you are considering adding a 10km to the Festival. Our dream is to complete a 10km some day.... on a safe beautiful course / well run and safe..... If you decide to add a 10km .... we would be up for that for sure.....Once again Thanks to both of you, and all of your volunteers for hosting and making { Barbados Swim Festival } possible. See ya next year, John (Canada) Love this awesome swim event!! Already looking forward to our return in 2016!! Thank you for such a fabulous Barbados Open Water Festival!! Susan (New Jersey, USA)
Hi Zary, We are leaving beautiful Barbados today and we would just like to thank you for the great race we did last Saturday. It was a very well organised race and, of course, the location and conditions were perfect. We have had a ball and the rest of the Doncaster Dolphins are very jealous. We will be sure to gloat when we get back home!! We will be back in 2017 so we will see you then! with love from the Australian Team (Doncaster Dolphins, Melbourne, Australia) 
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Group photo - US Masters Swimmers
Thank you very much for allowing me the honor of participating in your inaugural event. I felt very welcomed and sincerely appreciate the kindness of the host organizers. As it was my first time outside North America, and I was very amazed by the beauty of Barbados:-) I remember that moment because the timers were telling me to hurry up and cross the finish so they could record my time. I decided to chillax and truly appreciate the moment by thanking them and mozying across the line with a smile. I love Barbados:-):-) Paul (Toronto, Canada)
What a total blast in Barbados! It is hard not to get distracted during the race by sea turtles, star fish, other tropical fish, and the many strange objects they use as boat anchors. I have to say that Lake Ontario water tastes much better than ocean water and pool water. However the ocean is incredibly warm and no need for a wetsuit!
Cameron (L.O.S.T Swimming, Canada) I have to admit it was a perfect day and I absolutely LOVED Barbados and the event was fantastic.Thank you sooooooo much. Tessy (Texas)
Was an amazing week at the Barbados open water festival. I met some great people, ate great food, enjoyed many swims in pristine waters, and achieved many first time goals. I highly recommend! Take off your bucket list and just do it! I plan to be back for sure. Thanks Zary and all who made this possible. Beth (Tampa)
Loved it ... Highly recommend.. Thanks for organising a great event. Wendy (UK) Ladies from New Jersey
Susan: Loved your 'Swim The Bay' 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 a festive day of aquatic fun in the sea! Already looking forward to the next time that I can return to swim in your event again! Happy open water swimming!! Sarah: Beautiful race and well organized. Enjoyed meeting new people and swimming in the crystal clear waters of Barbados. Great prizes were handed out!!!!! Looking forward to coming back in the near future to do this race again!!! Couldn't have asked for a better day to swim 5 km in Barbados! Thanks for organizing this open water event, I will be telling all my fellow Canadian master swimmers about it. See you next year! (Calgary, CANADA)
Hello Zary ....Thank you so much for the fantastic event that you organized in Barbados!!!!!! I can not think of one negative thing to say. (Connecticut, USA)
Everything was so precise/well run/timely/very,very, safe for all swimmers/beautiful course/unbelievable prizes/course well marked ......... great job!!!!! I have never been to a swimming event where the participants etc. stuck around after..... this was an amazing day of other water sports..... which made for a full day of fun/food and drink// great music as well. I will definitely be returning next year with my girlfriend to compete as well... I move into the over 55 category next year so hopefully I can capture a top three finish in that category...John, Canada Dear Zary & team
A short note from me to thank you guys very much indeed for a wonderful day at Carlisle Bay today. My son and I both thoroughly enjoyed ourselves The 5km was an unforgettable experience. Although I was trying to race, to be surrounded by so many beautiful fish, turtles and other sea life was just incredible and also very distracting! It is hard to explain just how complete a contrast today was to most of the open water swimming in the UK. Truly a day that my son and I will remember for the rest of our lives. Thanks to everyone who helped and I hope that we get to return to your beautiful island again before too long. Best wishes, Jim (London, UK, 2014) Thanks for a lovely event. It has the potential to grow to be the premiere open water event in the Caribbean. Thanks, Shastri (Trinidad, 2013) Dear Zary, it was a great day, so thank you for all the organization and the memory of Barbados. I used to swim here for Barbados as a kid but have not been back for 40 years!. Regards, Michael (Hong Kong, 2013) 
The Festival aims to bring together open water swimmers of all ages and abilities from recreational to elite, to experience swimming in Carlisle Bay and to enjoy the island with the other swimmers, family and friends. Three days of practice swims (2K) and two days of races: 1.5K, 3.3K, 5K, 10K. There are dinner options available after the practice swims. Food and drink is available on location for race days as well. 
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