Every year, in early November, the magnificent Carlisle Bay in Barbados comes alive as hundreds of swimmers from all over the world take part in the Barbados Open Water Festival.  The visiting swimmers rave about the ideal open water swimming conditions in Carlisle Bay, a protected Marine Park.  The spectacular Bay, once a bustling seaport, is steeped in history, its importance first recognized by George Washington when he visited back in 1751 and famous British Admirals such as Lord Nelson have docked in the Bay. Suitably, the Bay now lies in the heart of a designated UNESCO World

Swim conditions and beauty of the island aside, there is a wonderful camaraderie among the swimmers at this event with its laidback island-life setting and the highly popular pre-event practices and social sessions leading up to the swim races. It’s this mix of fun and competition in a fabulous location that has resulted in excellent reviews and many repeat swim visitors.

The 2017 BOWF will offer 1.5K, 5K and 10K swims and is scheduled for November 1-5, 2017.