By Robert Kent From Global Swim Series

The 2020 – GSS Caribbean Championships have been awarded to one of the best open water races in the region, the “Nevis to St Kitts – Cross Channel Swim“.  It will be held on March 29, 2020!

Much like the GSS Champs in Cancun, where you swim point to point, to an island, that’s what you do here too!

There is always a human fascination with swimming from here to there, as opposed to swimming around in circles.  And to swim across an open challenge, to another island, is just plain adventurous.  And who doesn’t want an adventure!

So let us tell you a little bit about St Kitts and Nevis, where this adventure starts. These islands are those tiny, picturesque, paradise islands in the Caribbean Sea that you can envision in your head when you are dreaming of a tropical getaway. These twin islands are the smallest independent Caribbean country, by both size and population (pop. 55,000) and given its tax haven status and beautiful geography it has also become a very exclusive tourist resort destination. It is nice. Really nice.

As for the swim itself, the “Nevis to St. Kitts Cross Channel Swim”, it started in 2002 and has become a destination race for regular “swim tourists” and for world-class open water swimmers. Almost 200 swimmers from the USA, England, Scotland, Ireland, Brazil and many other islands in the Caribbean make the trip for this great event.

While there are often a few world-class swimmers (2 time Olympian in triathlon, Olivier Marceau, holds the current 4.1 km course record at 58:09), there are also a lot of regular swimmers who appreciate the challenge, mystique and sense of accomplishment of swimming from one island to another. There is even a category for those who just want to swim the 4.1 km and aren’t too concerned about the (beautiful) prizes and are allowed to wear whatever they want or need to accomplish the adventure, be it with fins and a snorkel or not. This makes the race very inclusive and a great family event, something that we at the Global Swim Series strongly support.

The other thing that makes this race a worthy goal is turtles. Not only are turtles at the centre of the very cool race logo, but it is also the charitable cause behind the race. The race has partnered with the St Kitts Turtle Conservation group to help raise awareness for this endangered species.

So come swim with the turtles, swim from one beautiful tropical island to the next one.  Come for the getaway in paradise, the prizes, the accomplishment, and the fun.  It is also held at the end of March, specifically March 29th, 2020… when you are really sick of winter and ready for an incredible escape and swimming adventure!