Swimming News courtesy of Swim Barbados
What’s the swim venue at the Barbados event like?
See for yourself, we visited last week and took some photos.
Swim Barbados (courtesy of Swim Barbados)
The sea was calm and crystal clear, the sand was just as white as it always is, fish and turtles were frolicking and most importantly, drinks were cold and food was hot at home base: Copacabana Beach Bar. The Bar’s slogan: “Always a Happy Ending at the Copa” is totally accurate!
The Barbados Open Water Festival (BOWF) will have an expanded format this year with the 1.5K and 5K races being held over two days (Nov 7-8) to accommodate the increase in entrants and allow swimmers to swim both races. Ahead of the event (Nov 4,5,6), the guided practice swims at three different locations (Miami Beach, Carlisle Bay and Port St. Charles) are proving highly popular again this year with many swimmers arriving a few days early to enjoy these informal and very social swims!
Olympic and World Champion Alex Meyer at the 2014 Barbados Open Water Festival (courtesy of Swim Barbados)
Plans are in high gear, the brand new Jaguar Platinum timing system arrived on island last week and prizes are flooding in from the generous sponsors! Virgin Atlantic and Air Canada have also stepped forward to offer preferred fares to attend the event.
The “Just for Fun” 1.5K will be of great significance in this year with proceeds from this event supporting the highly deserving “Variety: The Children’s Charity”. “You Swim…They Win!” is the slogan for this Charity race so if you don’t want to race you can enjoy a leisurely swim and support a worthy cause.
The two days of activities will include the customary high-energy Kayak and Stand Up Paddle relay races. Entries are still open at: http://www.swimbarbadosvacations.com
SWIM BARBADOS – SIGN UP HERE
Barbados Open Water Festival Nov 4-8 2015. Enter now. www.swimbarbadosvacations.com.
Watch our promotional video from the 2014 Barbados Open Water Festival:
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What’s the song in the promo video???
Hi, this is a calypso song by a local Barbadian singer! Calypso is a very different and rhythmic music that is quite common in the Caribbean islands. Regards, Kristina Evelyn, Organiser, BOWF.
Sounds great! This is what open water swims are about, unlike the RCP Tiburon Mile Sunday where all but the self-defined “elites” were denied a chance to swim due to “ebb currents” in Raccoon Strait. Cancellations were made at check-in with no email or Facebook warning. Hundreds were left in shore with no notice and refunds have been denied. Although there were the usual currents, the water was glassy and warm for SF Bay (66 F). I suspect that this quizzical decision will mark the end of the annual event, as Age group and Masters swimmers are the true fans and supporters of open water. I’m surprised that swimswam has not reported on it yet.
https://www.facebook.com/RCPTiburonMile
https://www.facebook.com/RCPTiburonMile
Jay, what an unfortunate experience. Recreational swimmers are the majority in our swim races. We do have Alex Meyer and Taylor Abbott confirmed but everyone swims together so if the races were cancelled it would be for all! Its highly unlikely (but not impossible) for a weather cancellation. Would have to have freak weather! We have it over two days so even if we had to change times to work around weather we would try to host the races. Should come swim with us! Regards, Kristina Evelyn, Barbados Open Water Festival. Nov 7-8.