The 8th Morocco Swim Trek, an international open water swimming competition open to both amateur and professional swimmers, kicked off on Wednesday in Dakhla.
The itinerary of this open water swimming competition–hosted by Open Water Event–has become an iconic mainstay of the international physical endurance calendar.
This trek is composed of a four-day itinerant race covering approximately 33 km of swimming in the Dakhla lagoon, with each day comprising a variable distance objective, and starting and ending at different locations.
The race, which runs until December 3, is divided into the “Dragon Island” (6.5 km), the “White Dune” (8.5 km), the “Marathon” (10 km), and “The Vagabond” stages, which is a 5 km loop around the Camp in the lagoon.
One hundred thirty swimmers–representing no fewer than 25 nationalities–took part in the competition, with about fifteen swimmers reaching the final stage.
“The first stage of this competition took place under good conditions,” said founder and organizer of the Morocco Swim Trek Edith Molina, noting that the participants will receive support in the various stages.
This trek is governed by the rules of the International Federation of Amateur Swimming.
One of the intricacies of this competition involves interaction with the microclimate of the region; specifically, the challenges presented by natural elements such as winds, currents, and tides promise a unique experience for the participant.