II CNB Swim

The II CNB Swim, scheduled for April 26, 2026, covers a 3.2km course starting and finishing at the Club Natació Barcelona facilities on the Playa de Sant Sebastià. The event, organized in collaboration with Radikal Swim, is designed as a season-opener in the Mediterranean waters of Barcelona. Participants can expect a controlled environment with support craft, safety kayakers, and medical coverage, with a two-hour time limit to complete the distance. Registration is priced between 35 and 40 EUR, with a field limited to 300 entrants.

Historical currents and landmarks

While navigating the waters off the Barceloneta coastline, swimmers cross an area defined by deep maritime shifts. The very ground beneath the beach is a relatively modern addition, as the neighborhood itself was only formed after 18th-century breakwaters trapped sediment, connecting the ancient island of Maians to the mainland. As you stroke through the bay, the Torre del Rellotge remains a constant visual reference; originally built as a lighthouse in 1772, it served as a critical point for scientists calculating the length of the meter. The harbor's industrial history is equally present: it was here, in 1864, that Narcis Monturiol successfully tested the Ictíneo II, the world's first combustion-powered, air-independent submarine. Further out, the looming presence of Montjuïc reminds observers of the city's complex past, including the site of a medieval Jewish cemetery. The swim is not without its modern reminders of history, as seen in the 2019 recovery of a 70-kilogram unexploded bomb from the Spanish Civil War near the race zone. For those looking to continue their season, the Challenge Barcelona Triathlon offers an open water swimming segment later in the year, providing a different perspective on these same coastal waters.