Turkish Victory Day Hellespont Swim
Itinerary and Map
Saturday 28th August
We meet at our 3* hotel in Çanakkale in the late evening where you have a chance to relax before we meet for drinks with the other members of the trip. Optional Coaching Clinic: 10am—2pm If you arrive early to Canakkale you have the opportunity to attend a special Hellespont coaching clinic with your SwimTrek coaches. They will analyse your stroke and offer some advice just in time for the big race. There will be drill sessions and demonstrations, a great way to improve your technique, all before the trip starts at 8pm.
Sunday 29th August
In the morning there is an opportunity to attend a private beach, a short walk out of Çanakkale’s bustling centre. Here you can get used to the conditions and take advice from our swim coaches on any last minute preparations. In the afternoonyou are invited to the complimentary race lunch and race briefing which is compulsary for swimmers. The evening is at your own leisure, but you do have the option of taking a tour to the ancient city of Troy.
Monday 30th August
The world’s most concentrated shipping lane is closed to all traffic as we participate in the annual Turkish Remembrance Day Hellespont Swimming race. You can either race to win it or just go along at your own pace and enjoy the experience of swimming in the wake of Leander & Byron. Our course over the crossing is similar to an ellipse as we compensate for left sided current. Following the swim, the awards ceremony and the SwimTrek post race dinner is held to commemorate this wonderful and unique swimming event.
Tuesday 31st August
A relaxing morning to recover from the previous days exertions, departing at your convenience. You will have the option of taking a tour to the Gallipoli Peninsular, where it is possible to swim off one of its beaches.
Race Caveat
In the event of bad weather and the swim being cancelled, there are no reserve days available but there is an opportunity for an alternate coastal swim route.
Caveat
Swim Event Type: Swimming in the sea is a fantastic experience, but you need to be aware of potential problems. Marine life such as jellyfish, sea urchins and coral could be present on some of the swims, but we will work on minimising. If stung by jellyfish you can normally carry on swimming. However if you do have a problem we can treat you on one of the escort boats. You should contact us prior to booking if you suffer from Anaphylaxis. You should seek medical attention if you develop any infection following contact with the above. For obvious safety reasons we rely on decent weather conditions when carrying out any swims. As a consequence, open water swimming does require an inherent degree of on-trip flexibility, so required changes in the planned itinerary will not be uncommon and will undoubtedly add to the uniqueness of each tour.