Barbados Open Water Festival
Barbados Open Water Festival
— Online entries will open February 2024–
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 and all walks of life but all with a shared passion for open water swimming and heart-warming camaraderie ensues.
The Festival runs for five fabulous days – three days of practice swims and two days of “Races”. You can choose to swim one day or all five! Experience three open water swimming locations in Barbados. The races are a wonderful mix of ages and abilities, serious swimmers and swimmers just there for enjoyment. Distances: 1.5K, 3.3K, 5K, 10K.
Over the years many familiar faces of the open water world have been seen at the Festival – Olympians, World Champions, Masters Champions, marathon swimmers, Triple Crowners, Pan Am Medallists, National Champs, Ice swimmers, World Record Holders, Pro-triathletes, Swim Administrators & more.
The venue – Carlisle Bay
The focal point of the Festival is the magnificent Carlisle Bay. The swimmers rave about the ideal open water swimming conditions at the venue, Carlisle Bay, a protected Marine Park. The Bay is truly idyllic but also steeped in history, as a former bustling seaport, visited by the likes of George Washington and famous British Admiral, Lord Nelson. Suitably, the Bay now lies adjacent to the designated UNESCO World Heritage Site: “Historic Bridgetown and its Garrison”.
Crystal clear calm water that laps gently onto a long white sand beach and little or no undertow.
A swimmer once likened Carlisle Bay to a “large swimming pool but even more beautiful”.