Travesía a nado Picoco-Playa de Regla

On November 1, 1755, the coast of Chipiona was struck by a powerful sea surge, a consequence of the great Lisbon earthquake that forced the town to confront the raw power of the Atlantic. This historical mark remains etched in the local consciousness through the annual processions of the Christ of Mercy, a testament to the town's resilience. Today, swimmers gathered at Playa de Regla find a different relationship with these same waters, navigating a coastline shaped by the sediment of the Guadalquivir river, which has long served as a vital maritime passage into the heart of Andalusia.

Landmarks of the swim

As you navigate the 1500-meter course, the 69-meter tall Chipiona Lighthouse serves as your primary orientation point. Built in 1867, its structure is composed of sandstone and oysterstone, a unique material containing visible mollusc fossils that anchors the building to the very seabed you traverse. Further out, the Salmedina reef marks the horizon; submerged during high tide, these rocks are steeped in local lore, identified by ancient chroniclers as the potential site of the 'Ars Gerionis', or the legendary tomb of the giant Geryon. The area's deep connection to the sea is further reflected in the local devotion to the Virgin of Regla, whose image was said to have been brought across these waters by fleeing disciples before being hidden for centuries in a nearby cistern.

Race day logistics

This annual event, now celebrating its twentieth edition, draws swimmers to the Atlantic on August 23rd for a competition that highlights the local coastline. Beyond the main 1500-meter challenge for participants over 16, the day includes shorter 100-meter and 200-meter distances for younger categories, ensuring a broad range of local participation. The race is a community-driven effort, often coordinated alongside regional swimming circuits. For those looking to continue their season in the surrounding waters, the Travesía Picobarro Rota offers another test of endurance earlier in August, while the Travesía a nado de El Puerto de Santa María provides a different perspective on the Andalusian coast. Whether you are aiming for the podium or simply navigating the currents near the lighthouse, the experience is defined by the unique geological and historical layers of the Chipiona shoreline.