The Swimming Crossing Peñón de Ifach The Calp open water swim celebrated its eleventh edition this Sunday with a record 898 swimmers registered. The event, which has established itself as one of the most emblematic races in the region, swimming In open waters on the Costa Blanca, it once again offered a unique tour at the foot of the majestic Peñón de Ifach, an indisputable symbol of the town and the Valencian Community.
The crossing, organized by the Royal Nautical Club of Calp in collaboration with the City Council, challenged participants to cover a 3.800-meter course in Mediterranean waters. The start, as every year, was marked by a vibrant atmosphere in which athletes of different ages and levels shared strokes with the same goal: to complete a sporting and scenic experience.
On the competitive level, the test crowned Miguel Bou Bernabeu as the absolute winner, who won the men's category with a time of 00:47:45, closely followed by Francisco José Hervás Jódar (00:47:51) and Aaron Ledesma Álvaro in third place.
In the women's category, Rosa Martínez Roglá was the first to cross the finish line with a time of 00:52:26. The podium was completed by Claudia Fandos Barreda (00:56:31) and Andrea Smycek, who put in a strong performance to round out the top three.
Volunteers
The success of the event cannot be understood without the involvement of the local community. Nearly 200 volunteers, deployed both at sea and on land, ensured safety and organization throughout the day. Kayakers, support boats, medical personnel, and collaborators were part of a team that allowed the crossing to proceed without incident.
One of the most emotional moments came with the tribute to the swimmers who have completed the ten previous editions of the crossing. The key figures were Antonio Tur, Demetrio Fernández, Francisco Martín, and Patricia Mas, whom the organizers publicly recognized for their perseverance and commitment to this sporting event.
The president of the Real Club Náutico de Calpe, Juan Belliure, gave a very positive evaluation of this edition, stating that "in this eleventh edition, we broke a record for swimmers and volunteers. The level of participation was enormous; for us, it was a success, and we want to highlight the quality of the swimmers who participated," he declared at the end of the event.
For her part, the club's manager, Mada Martínez, stated that "for us at RCN Calp, this crossing is very special: every year it becomes more deeply rooted in the town, swimming gains importance, and what excites us most is seeing more and more people from Calp joining in. None of this would be possible without our sponsors, who believe in this sport, without the volunteers, who are always there giving their all, and without the incredible team at Náutico de Calpe, who organize every detail with passion and enthusiasm. A heartfelt thank you to everyone for making this event a true celebration of the sea, sport, and our community."
Beyond the strictly sporting aspect, the Peñón de Ifach Open Water Swim has become a engine tourist attraction for Calp. Each edition draws hundreds of visitors, companions and families who take the opportunity to enjoy the natural surroundings, the gastronomy and the local cultural offerings. The Peñón, declared a Natural Park in 1987, provides a spectacular backdrop that makes the event an unforgettable experience for swimmers and spectators alike.
With eleven editions already under its belt, the crossing has earned a prominent place on the national open water swimming calendar. Its combination of sport, nature and its popular spirit makes it a benchmark event for lovers of this type of competition.
The organization highlighted the "success in terms of participation and sporting atmosphere" and reaffirmed its commitment to continue consolidating the crossing as an event that unites sport, and nature on the Costa Blanca.
