Insights, Stories, and Updates
#7Croatia: the perfect preparation for a solo English Channel attempt?
Julia Pritchard’s Journey with UltraSwim 333
Lifelong swimmer Julia Pritchard will use #7Croatia as a key milestone in her build up to her first English Channel solo attempt this summer. How did she get to this point, and why does she see next May’s #7Croatia edition as a key part of her build up? Read on!
What made you get into Open Water Swimming and Why?
My first OWS was a race in the river in Matlock Bath organised by my swimming club. They had a 250m stretch of the river and ran a series of 3 races. The 250, 500 and 1,500m. The first year they did it I was so nervous, every time I put my face in the water I froze and held my breath. I couldn’t breathe out. I hadn’t really thought it through and the fact that I couldn’t see the bottom of the river really unnerved me. I got out after the 1st race and concluded open water swimming was not for me.
Soon after a friend asked if I fancied a swim in the river with her. I thought I’d give it another try. Just the two of us, head up breaststroke and chatting. I slowly practiced putting my face in and breathing out. I soon realised I could do front crawl in open water.
Then I got invited for a night swim in the river by Chatsworth House. It’s a beautiful spot that is normally heaving with people on a summer's day. At night, we had the place to ourselves. Someone passed out glow sticks which we put into the backs of our goggles and left a load on the bank of the river so we knew where to climb out. We swam upstream, moonlit with the occasional bat flying overhead. It was magical. A micro adventure with new friends. When we got out, someone passed round mugs of hot chocolate. I felt like a kid again, going out for a play. That was probably the moment when I caught the bug.
2. Were you a swimmer your whole life? When did you start swimming? Any family involved in swimming or others that motivated you to do open water swimming
I have always been involved with swimming. As a kid I was in the local lifesaving club and competed in competitions. My first job was working as a lifeguard at the pool and I soon got trained up to help with the swimming lessons. I only started club swimming though when I was 35. I joined the Masters sessions as a way to keep fit. All three of my children swim with the swimming club and my daughter also loves open water swimming. We swam Lake Coniston this year. It was really fun doing it together. All 3 are faster than me now, but……. I can swim further!
3. What is a typical day for you from waking up and training for something like an Ultra Marathon?
At the moment, over winter, I am concentrating on my stroke and strength. I am working with my swim club coach to become more efficient with my stroke and less prone to injury for when I build up the km. I do about 6 hours of club swimming a week and one swim a week in the local unheated lido. I am also doing 3 sessions of strength and conditioning, 2 pilates sessions, a couple of bike sessions and I have a stretching routine I try to do before I swim.
From February onwards I will be increasing my cold water swimming to twice a week and making one of my swims a longer swim, so I will be ready to do the Channel qualifying swim in April. The qualifier is a 6 hour non stop sea swim in water under 16 Celsius. I have done it 3 times before so I'm not worried about doing the swim. What I am preparing carefully for, is to be able to do it without injuring myself.
4. Why the English Channel, what does it mean for you to accomplish this swim.
I've been involved in long distance swimming for a while now so I do know several people who have swam the Channel. It's been in the back of my head for a while as something it might be possible for me to do one day. This year I turned 50 and realised that if I was going to do it one day, I better crack on and do it sooner rather than later. A few chats later with some swimming friends and I had managed to get myself a crew and a slot with Paul Forman on Optimist for the beginning of September 2025. To accomplish it will make me so proud of myself, and I'm sure my family will be very proud too. I know it is not a given. So many things have to be inplace for it to be successful and not all of them are in my control. I am training hard and love chatting to people who have already swam long sea crossings, picking up tips and advice from them.
5. What other goals do you have?
There are some really amazing long swims that I would love to do. If I manage to swim the English Channel, I think I would then have the confidence to do them. I particularly have my eye on the Round Manhattan Island Swim and the Scar Swim in Arizona.
6. How do you see joining ULTRASWIM 33.3 events helping in achieving your goals.
To achieve my goals I need to experience a lot of open water and sea swimming in different distances and conditions. Swimming long distances in laps I find hard. It's really boring and my mind can start to become a bit negative. I know swimming the channel will be hard, but I am determined to really enjoy my training and hopefully really enjoy the swim too!
I went on the Ultraswim 33.3#5 in Montenegro. Their format of point to point swims makes every swim interesting and a challenge. You are never alone and they have an amazing team looking after you. I got some great training advice from Jay Prchal and Ivan Puskovitch and I learnt loads from listening to the talks with Sophie Eldritch, Marieke and Andy Donaldson. The timing of the ULTIMATE 22.2 at ULTRASWIM 33.3#7 in Croatia is perfect for me. The predicted sea temperature is similar to what the English Channel will be in September. Being able to swim a 22.2 km point to point swim in the sea early in the season will really give me confidence. My friends, who will be crewing for me on the channel, are also able to join me and crew for me on the ULTIMATE 22.2. So it will be a great practice for us all.
7. Anything you can say to motivate and advise potential swimmers in getting into Open Water swimming?
Open Water swimmers are such a friendly, supportive bunch. I have met so many interesting positive people and had all sorts of different adventures. I am so glad I didn't stop after my first river swim when I got nervous putting my face in the water. Don't just give it a try, give it several tries. you won't regret it.
ULTIMATE 33.3km NON-STOP option added to #7CROATIA
The Ultimate UltraSwim Experience Awaits
Big marathon swim challenges like the English Channel can be very difficult to organise, often with long waiting lists or expensive solo organisation costs. Whether your aspiration is to take on the iconic Channel swim in the future, or you relish the idea of an ultra-marathon challenge, UltraSwim 33.3 now has two big swim options added to its next Epic Adventure Swim Race in beautiful Croatia in May 2025, including a 33.3km single swim between the two stunning ancient 12th century villages of Stari Grad, and Hvar Town.
If already the 33.3km over 4 days seems plenty (quite normal!), then the rest of this blog is maybe not for you - but why not get that 'end of winter' (if you're a northern hemisphere person!) challenge of UltraSwim 33.3 #7Croatia booked and have a goal to aim for over the next 6 months!
Entries to the ULTIMATE are strictly limited and there a significant financial incentive for the first 5 swimmers to confirm their entry in either the full ULTIMATE 33.3 or the shorter but nonetheless challenging 22.2km version, ULTIMATE 22.2.
Swimmers must be entered into the full UltraSwim 33.3 event, but will swap one of the event day swims for a full 33.3 (or 22.2km). The swims will take place between sunrise and sunset, with a minimum pace of 2.3km/h (or 2km/h) required.
A full additional support packaged will be provided, including a dedicated boat and skipper, live tracking, medical cover and a super course as part of the ULTIMATE Entry Fee supplement. You will be asked to bring your own support crew of at least one experienced person who will manage your nutrition feeds and overall well-being alongside our team.
In addition to your chosen UltraSwim 33.3 package, we will provide:
Planning, weather, set course, overall delivery
A dedicated co-ordinator and race director for the ULTIMATE
4-6metre support boat with skipper/observer, fuel included
Live tracking
Timing and results
MSF documented event ratification request where applicable
Medical cover on standby
Precision Fuel & Hydration product for the swim
Specific preparation webinar for ULTIMATE entries
On-site preparation session with Andy Donaldson
Specific pre-event briefing
Photo and video summary of event
Transfers to/from start and finish from/to hotel by boat and/or land
Training for boat skippers, radios, trackers (in addition to swimmer)
Additional safety equipment onboard each support boat
Remote monitoring of tracking throughout
Start and Finish lines
Dedicated WhatsApp channel for swimmers and support team
ULTIMATE specific Finisher medal
What you will need to provide
One support person who has some experience of supporting you or another marathon swimmer on a 5 hour + swim - in particular who has the knowledge to manage your regular feeding routine. A second person may also be on the support boat. Accommodation for at least one person must be taken through us at the event hotel(s)
Any extra specific nutrition, fresh food, and feeding equipment (eg feedstick if under MSF rules).
A medical certificate certifying fitness for the ULTIMATE swim
Your mental strength and desire to finish!
Potential courses for the 33.3 and 22.2
Q&A on #7Croatia ULTIMATE 33.3
What day of the event will the ULTIMATE swim be? Normally at #7Croatia it will be the second or third day, allowing you to use the previous UltraSwim 33.3 legs as warmup swims and the fourth day to enjoy the super finish in Hvar Town with everyone.
What happens if the weather is bad, is there a risk like many other long distance challenges that I don't get to swim at all? This risk exists but is very low compared with those other challenges, as we have all 4 event days to be able to achieve this swim, and have the resources in place to be able to be flexible.
How experienced does my support person need to be? They will need to be practiced and comfortable managing your nutrition and feeding regime (generally swimmers are feeding every 30 minutes on such swims, we can provide more advice on this of course), and equally have some experience on how to maintain both safe distance and correct protection for the swimmer to ensure the skipper acts as you require him to. Its possible we could provide someone - but at an additional cost - if you don't have this support person yourself.
How fast do I need to swim? With almost mid-summer daylight hours (0530-2015), the minimum average pace required will be 2.3km/h for the 33.3 and 2km/h for the 22.2 - if you cannot hold this pace, you will need to exit the water when asked. Allowance will be made for adverse current and conditions, with start / finish times adjusted accordingly - but there will be no swimming outside of daylight hours.
Can I just come for the ULTIMATE and not enter the overall event? No, unfortunately this is not an option due to the fact that we have to make commitments to 4 nights with our hotel partners and we must use the full package for every swimmer, and equally can’t block those rooms for just a part of the period. This may change at other venues in 2026 (currently this is the only venue we plan the ULTIMATE in 2025), but this is a constraint at #7Croatia that we can’t change.
Can I bring more than one person with me? Yes the boat that will be dedicated to you will have the space for 2 or 3 support crew, we just ask that at least one of the support team takes our partner hotel and transfer package (at the same level as you)
How late can I leave it to book? Places are strictly limited (by the ability to source appropriate support boats and skippers primarily) so you are advised to block your place immediately, pay your event deposit, and send us your marathon swimming resumé on epicswims@ultraswim333.com for our Race Director to consider - we cannot guarantee acceptance of all applications.
How much does it cost in addition to the UltraSwim 33.3 normal entry? 1500 Euros is the additional fee for the ULTIMATE 22.2 and 33.3, but the first 5 entries out of an initial maximum of 10 total spots are discounted to 950 Euros! Booking conditions for the ULTIMATE are different to the main event package, see the download package for more details.
All images by ©Vincent Curutchet / UltraSwim 33.3
Six Months to Go: Swim Around Hvar Island, Croatia
Your Ultimate Swim Adventure
With six months to go until #7Croatia on the beautiful island of Hvar in May, its time to set yourself an early summer objective, or for our southern hemisphere Aussie swimmers and the like, an amazing European end of summer finale!
A little video reminder of what we all enjoyed earlier this year, between the ancient villages of Stari Grad and Hvar Town, incredible swimming, new friends made, and life-changing emotion!
And in case you are worried that you won't fit in, don't be! Every level of open water swimmer is represented at our events - from highly competitive trying to win, to those wanting to perform beyond their age, to those simply wanting to cross the finish line. The perfect crystal clear Croatian waters (20C last year), with beautiful bays, two 2km crossings, and stunning Pakleni Islands to navigate through, coupled with the ancient villages we swim between, make this a real favourite for the 33.3 family of swimmers from all over the world! And check out our amazing hotel options, including the stunning Maslina Resort on our new ULTRA+[5*] option!
We can’t guarantee you’ll get the time you want, we can’t even guarantee you’ll finish the full 33.3km… but here’s what we do know:
We know you’ll be pushed to your limits.
We know we’ll do everything within our power to help you succeed. We know you’ll make important friendships.
And we know that you’ll create lifelong memories.
But don’t take our word for it; read more of the reviews at Racecheck.com
'MOODY MONTENEGRO' DELIVERS A CHALLENGING BUT REWARDING 33.3
A Unique Swimming Destination
Before we turn your attention to our next event, #7Croatia, just 8 months away and filling up fast, lets take a quick look back at #5Montenegro...
That was a tough one! And we're not talking just about the swimming! From an organisational point of view Moody Montenegro as we'll now name it, was about as challenging as it can get for the UltraSwim 33.3 team to be able to deliver on our promise - challenging but achievable swims in a race format with not less than 33.3km over a 4 day long weekend, a world class safety envelope, luxury hotel experience and premium support in an exotic location, with great camaraderie and new friends made from around the world! ✅
What impressed us most though, was the adaptability and resilience of everyone - swimmers and event staff - quite a few doubted on the Thursday before the event if we'd manage to nail our holy grail of 33.3km - that iconic English Channel distance at the heart of our UltraSwim 33.3 concept. "Nothing great is easy" as Captain Webb said in 1875 having become the first person ever to swim between England France.
With lots of logistical juggling, backup plans A-Z, some difficult time-pressured decision making and an amazing group of event staff and volunteers, it seems, according to the 5* reviews, that we pulled it off in style. We've got some great feedback once again and also super useful constructive comments on what we can improve - we can always do better. But #5Montenegro was the first time we'd had a full complement of swimmers (200) - so combine that with thunderstorms, rain and huge weather uncertainty, we were certainly put to the test.
Images by ©Mark Lloyd / UltraSwim 33.3
We maybe don't always recognise enough the incredible performances at the front, as of course we love to celebrate those right through the ranking all the way to the back. There were courageous swims right through the fleet of swimmers that day - but also a very impressive race by ultimate skins category winner Michael Dieckmann from Germany, on his third UltraSwim 33.3. After being held in a pod of strong swimmers for the first two days, managed to break away and smash his way through the difficult and disorganised waves, to win with a very decisive 6 minute lead that set him up for the event victory.
Many swimmers that day were very nervous about what for a good number of them would be their first marathon 10km+ swim, especially with the weather uncertainty, out on the exposed Adriatic Coast and after already two hard days in the water. On the boat transfer to the start line, you could see many with these questions in their heads "am I ready?", "What if I'm slow?", "What if I don't make the cut off time?". But there were only 15 DNF (Did Not Finish) that day, and even those that didn't make it, were more often than not proud, and rightly so, of what they'd achieved
““The Marathon swim day on the Sunday, threw some quite confused seas at the swimmers in the second half just as they were tiring. I was so impressed by the resilience of the 33.3’ers to just bash on through it - often in their new found little tribes - supporting each other right to the completion of their goal! We started with lightning disappearing over the horizon and rain clouds above - but we finished with smiles and an enormous sense of achievement for not just the swimmers from 24 countries, but also our organising team! Only 15 non-finishers on what was one of the tougher 10km legs we’ve done in the 5 editions since 2022””
Ready to Dive In?
If you're craving an adventure that goes beyond the ordinary, join us next year for UltraSwim 33.3 in #7Croatia or one of our other events. Experience the thrill of swimming through crystal-clear waters, past epic landscapes, with a tribe of like-minded adventurers who will inspire and support you every stroke of the way. Whether you're an experienced open-water swimmer or someone looking to push beyond your limits, this is more than just a swim—it's an unforgettable journey that will leave you with memories, friendships, and a deeper connection to yourself and the ocean.
Are you ready to take the plunge? Secure your spot for next year, and be part of something truly extraordinary.
DOUBTS? WHAT DOUBTS?
DISCOVER OUR GALLERY OF EPIC #5 FINISHES 📸
All images by ©Mark Lloyd / UltraSwim 33.3
“Swimming Farther, Finding Community: A Greece Perspective”
Sunrise on way to start, contemplating the swim day ahead!
A Swimmer’s View: Greece Beyond Comfort Zones
By Mariana Santos
Coming back from UltraSwim 33.3 #4Greece has been a journey in itself. It takes time to process the whirlwind of emotions. How do you truly explain an experience so powerful to someone who hasn’t yet lived it? It’s not just a swim vacation or an open-water swim race—it’s an adventure that unites mind, body, and spirit.
Imagine gathering with sixty swimmers, each ready to push their limits and swim 33.3 kilometers over four days around the most breathtaking Greek islands. It sounds like a wild dream, but this dream becomes a reality with the extraordinary UltraSwim 33.3 crew. Their planning, curation, and on-the-spot decision-making transform every moment into something unforgettable. Yet, even as you're swimming through paradise, there’s that lingering question: Do I deserve to be here?
The answer unfolds as the days go by. The camaraderie builds, the tribe tightens, and a collective sense of belonging emerges. Together, you face unpredictable winds, swell, and currents. And through it all, one thought is constant: We’re in good hands. The UltraSwim 33.3 team expertly navigates the evolving sea conditions, keeping safety at the forefront while ensuring the adventure stays alive.
But it’s not just the challenge—it’s the sheer beauty that takes your breath away. Swimming through warm 26°C waters so transparent that you can see schools of fish below, feeling the gentle rhythm of the sea as you glide along the shorelines of these magical islands. There are moments when you pause, inhaling the scent of pine trees as you swim towards the iconic Mamma Mia church. The blend of nature's fragrances and the feeling of the water beneath you creates a sensory experience like no other—peaceful, reflective, yet energizing. You look around and see your fellow swimmers, all of you in sync with the ocean, sharing a collective flow. It’s as if, for those moments, the boundaries between swimmer, sea, and sky dissolve.
Every stroke brings a new view—towering cliffs, hidden coves, and the endless stretch of blue. The epic landscape is more than a backdrop; it’s part of the experience. You’re not just swimming through water; you’re swimming through a living, breathing ecosystem, a world where every ripple, every wave carries the energy of the ocean itself.
Swimming through waves, pushing beyond fear, and embracing the wild unpredictability of the sea becomes a shared triumph. Each swim takes you farther from your comfort zone, yet closer to the heart of this unique community. When you finally reach the shore, you’re not alone. The UltraSwim 33.3 crew, volunteers, and your fellow swimmers are there—cheering and celebrating each person’s victory. Every stroke, every challenge overcome, is met with collective joy and a sense of accomplishment that reverberates through the entire group.
This isn’t just an individual journey. UltraSwim 33.3 thrives on collaboration and interdependence. It mirrors the complexity of nature itself—where every part of the ecosystem contributes to the health of the whole. Like plants and animals working in harmony, each swimmer, crew member, and volunteer plays a crucial role in making this experience extraordinary.
Yes, you deserve to be here. This isn’t just about swimming; it’s about connection—connection to the ocean, to others, and to your deepest self. UltraSwim 33.3 Greece is a transformative adventure that expands your heart, tests your limits, and leaves you feeling whole, seen, and truly celebrated.
“If you have made it to the start line, you’re 90% of the way there and that’s 100% better than everyone else who stayed at home!”
Finish Day1 #4Greece under Mamma Mia rock!
Ready to Dive In?
If you're craving an adventure that goes beyond the ordinary, join us next year for UltraSwim 33.3 #9Greece or one of their other challenges in #7Croatia or #10Montenegro. Experience the thrill of swimming through crystal-clear waters, past epic landscapes, with a tribe of like-minded adventurers who will inspire and support you every stroke of the way. Whether you're an experienced open-water swimmer or someone looking to push beyond your limits, this is more than just a swim—it's an unforgettable journey that will leave you with memories, friendships, and a deeper connection to yourself and the ocean.
Are you ready to take the plunge? Secure your spot for next year, and be part of something truly extraordinary.
DOUBTS? WHAT DOUBTS?
DISCOVER OUR GALLERY OF EPIC #4GREECE FINISHES 📸
All images by ©bladphoto / UltraSwim 33.3
“Luxury Hotels & Spas: At the Heart of UltraSwim 333”
✔︎ It’s not JUST the swimming that is a premium experience at UltraSwim33.3!
✔︎ We’ve chosen amazing hotels to host you, and your partner or family
✔︎ NEW for 2025 our ULTRA+[5*] option - ULTRA+ with hotel upgrade
✔︎ LIMITED AVAILABILTY for 2025, reserve now [flexible rollover policy]
The UltraSwim 333 Experience
At the heart of the UltraSwim 33.3 concept, is an unashamedly luxury hotel offer. We recognise that, whilst wanting to keep the event accessible with our ULTRA package, most of our swimmers are looking for that luxury touch when they are using precious time away to participate in our long weekend events.
Maslina Resort, mindful luxury Relais&Chateau
Also nearly half our swimmers want to ensure a non-participating loved one is going to be excited to come with you - for the hotel experience as well as our F3* package which gets them involved - but not too involved (lets face it, watching you swimming for hours could be classed a little boring!).
From the outset we’ve chosen some amazing hotels to partner with, and we’re going to feature some of them today, kicking off with our new ULTRA+[5*] options. This new package, combines our ULTRA+ service and support offer, with the best hotels or rooms/villas we can offer at our amazing locations.
Fine dining at Maslina Resort
Let’s head first to our Islands Edition, #7Croatia. Starting out from the ancient village of Stari Grad in May we’ll kick off the 2025 season in style with a collaboration with the Maslina Resort, a Relais & Chateau 5 star experience - mindful luxury is the theme, strong on sustainability, stunning views and the peace and calm you deserve whilst taking on an epic UltraSwim 33.3 (or enjoying whilst your partner does it!). For those opting for the existing ULTRA+ [4*] you won’t be disappointed either with the acclaimed Amicor Green Resort offering again strong sustainability credentials, in a super waterside setting, in dedicated bungalows - all brand new last year.
100% renewable energy supply to these luxury eco-villas
Moving on to the greenest isle in Greece, Skopelos is our host venue for September’s Mamma Mia edition - here we have been so happy to have found Yannos and his amazing family to host our swimmers at the Adrina Resort&Spa. Villas with private pools, presidential suites and stunning views (actually that comes with all levels), the Adrina is the perfect spot to relax and recover - whether you are swimming or supporting!
Family run Adrina Resort&Spa, Skopelos - "stunning views and amazing staff"
Our final event of the year in Montenegro, Fjords to the Ocean themed, the original UltraSwim 33.3, and we’re still hosted by the 5* Hotel Lazure & Marina, with its amazing spa and a new outdoor pool on the beach. One part of this hotel has been rebuilt from an old maritime docking station, and known as the Historical Building offers top class rooms and suites that sit under our [5*] offer, as well as some multi-room apartments in the Residential building nearby. A favourite of event founder Mark Turner this one!
Lazure, Hotel & Marina with exceptional spa facilities
So…yes you want to extend your limits and take on the mighty 33.3 as a swimmer - but you don’t need to slum it - and nor does your partner! Which one do you fancy for 2025?
*F3 -Family, Friends and Fans package allows your partners not competing to feel part of the event, but without the early mornings or the 33.3km of swimming!
“FANTASTIC NEW GREEK VENUE OF SKOPELOS DELIVERS!”
The New Greek Venue for UltraSwim 333
Fresh from Skopelos, we give you the the post event perspective of UltraSwim 33.3’s Founder, Mark Turner
An Epic Adventure Swim Race™, but so much more than just a race…
✔︎ Crystal clear waters, blue skies and sunshine, but tricky winds set the backdrop for our first UltraSwim 33.3 in Greece
✔︎ Expectations exceeded and a full 33.3km swum, but only just!
✔︎ #9Greece dates set 19-22 September 2025 and entry spots filling up fast
@bladphoto/ UltraSwim 33.3
Mamma Mia, here we go again, was the rallying cry going in to this new edition of UltraSwim 33.3. A new venue, new relationships with suppliers, hotels, boat captains, restaurants. Untested waters, different weather patterns to understand, the sun angles, the tides, the underwater hazards, the sea life, the swimming ropes, the boat traffic. Of course I’d already scoped out this amazing peaceful and as yet unspoilt gem of a Greek island, Skopelos - the greenest island of Greece. But this is not the same as running the real event, under the delivery pressure of albeit a smaller ‘Pioneer’ event, but still 61 paying clients with high expectations. Could we match or even better the previous 33.3 editions? Half the swimmers had already participated at least once, and 3 of them in every single edition so far since our Montenegro test event in 2022. For the first time more women than men too! A loyal but demanding family!
With Abba’s Mamma Mia soundtracks banging around in our heads off we set in to the relative unknown. And Skopelos delivered with its stunning, wild and varied backdrops and seascapes. And my extraordinary team delivered in spades and with adaptability to the fore when weather conditions tested us to our limits and we still managed to give our swimmers the opportunity to nail that 33.3km (the English Channel distance) challenge over 4 days and get their coveted #4Greece Finisher droplet!
Waves, calm, filmset backdrops, peace, wind and more waves, and glorious sunshine (until the day after the event when the heavens opened!). Water at 26C - loved by some - but maybe too hot for wetsuits!
The amazing family owned Adrina Hotel delivered beyond our expectations - super staff, solving all our demanding event needs - not every hotel wants to serve breakfast at 0545 when usually its 8am! Boat captains and local boat suppliers didn’t know what hit them - but they took it onboard and were smiling by the end! And a combined local and Montenegrin tried and tested safety kayak team did a sterling job of assuring the safety of our swimmers, sometimes in backwash conditions that tested their ability to stay in their kayaks and simultaneously look after our swimmers.
The crystal clear waters make Skopelos a swimming paradise - but this is not just a swim holiday, you can do a Swim Trek for that - this is a tough challenge for all the swimmers, and the day by day grind and fatigue takes its toll. But like every edition so far, as each swim and km passes something extraordinary happens - a group dynamic that I was sure could work with this format - but nonetheless have had to witness for real to be certain. A building energy, teamwork on the water, emotion on finish lines that bring tears to the toughest, a group vibe that doesn’t care about background, culture, language. Just keep swimming, just nail that 33.3, and celebrate together when its done!
The building global 33.3 family is something at UltraSwim we are so so proud of - in the end as organisers we are nothing, we are just facilitating an incredible community that is building with each edition. Its an honour for us to host our swimmers and watch them grow in one or another across 33km of swinging those arms, overcoming their doubts, surpassing what they thought they were capable of. Swimming, open water swimming in particular, is a go to sport for such a diverse crowd. A mental and physical health prescription like no other. You can do it until you die. And there are just no egos - no-one showing off their bike - just mutual respect from the front to the back of the pack, from elite to newbie, from super fast to plodder.
We love and it and cherish it.
#5Montenegro in a few weeks time. 200 swimmers for the first time, sold out since 6 months, and already half sold for next year before we’ve done this one. Expectations high, and most likely lots of challenges and new lessons to learn for our incredible organisation team that comes together for these events.
Hoping we can keep this magic formula going. We will do our very best for you, our swimmers.
Watch Day1 highlights with a finish at Mamma Mia church! HERE
@bladphoto / UltraSwim 33.3
“UltraSwim 333: Camaraderie, Community, and Support”
The Top Result of UltraSwim 333
It is the most consistent feedback from the 200 individual swimmers who have already competed in an UltraSwim 33.3 so far…
An Epic Adventure Swim Race™, but so much more than just a race…
✔︎ Incredible diversity - swimmers of 43 nationalities entered to date
✔︎ Inclusive - from self-confessed ‘turtles’ aiming just to finish inside the 2km/h cutoff, to…
✔︎ to ‘dolphins’ out there competing whether its to win or not
✔︎ Many adaptive athletes for whom swimming is their solace
✔︎ And a majority of passionate swimmers just looking to challenge themselves
“Through the ups and downs, mentally and physically, of a 33.3km multi-day challenge our events have proven already to create incredibly strong bonds, group positive energy and teamwork to carry you to those finish lines, and countless new lifelong friendships formed.”
Some of the diversity within our amazing UltraSwim 33.3 family already…
AGE: From 15 to 75 years of age (with a median of 50 so far)
GENDER: 50/50 female/male
NATIONALITY: 43 different cultural backgrounds, from all 5 continents - South Africa to Singapore, Brazil to Britain, Albania to Australia, USA to Ukraine.
PACE: from 2km/h to 4.5km/h - every finisher is a winner at UltraSwim 33.3
ADAPTIVE ATHLETES WELCOME: successful Finishers include amputees, wheelchair bound and other severe disabilities - swimming is a sport that literally levels the playing field and we embrace that fully in our support. Water starts/finishes = no running up the beach to finish a 33.3!
BUDGET: whilst this is unashamedly a premium event, centred around a 5* hotel offering and professional support, we have packages for everyone, and discounts for groups.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE: our flexible rollover policy allows those with complex professional lives to reserve early in the knowledge they can keep their spot if their work/life changes
TIME POOR: long weekend format to minimise your time away, or instead profit from our amazing locations and turn it into a week’s holiday
WE CARE ABOUT THE PARTNERS: nearly half our swimmers now bring a non-competing partner, and we’ve made a special F3 (Friends, Family, Fans) package to make sure they feel included enough (without the early alarm clock call!), but not bored by watching swimmers!
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER - AND WE HAVE PROOF!
Meet the man defeating opponents half his age
Proof That Age is Just a Number at UltraSwim 333
Meet Olivier Delfosse, one of our recent winners in UltraSwim 33.3 #3Croatia... After impressing swimmers and organisers alike, we reached out to Olivier to discover his secrets.
We had the privilege of speaking with Olivier Delfosse, UltraSwim 33.3 competitor and open water swimmer from Belgium who recently finished first at #3Croatia back in May in the Men’s Skins category.
At UltraSwim 33.3, we mean it when we say ‘every finisher is a winner’ because everyone’s journey and ambition is different and we pride ourselves on being as inclusive as possible. However, each event is still a race for those that care, and for every race, there must be a winner.
At the age of 60, it was on the island of Hvar that Olivier blew us all out of the water beating participants easily half his age and younger… so we just had to know - how does he do it?!
In this newsletter, Olivier shares his insights on recent races, training regimes, and personal tips for maintaining and improving performance.
Q: Olivier, let’s start with why you were drawn to compete in UltraSwim 33.3?
I was attracted to UltraSwim 33.3 for several reasons. Firstly, there’s nothing much out there like it, with its multi-day format of 33.3 kilometres spread over 4 days. Maintaining focus for that entire time, trying to win each day - it’s tough! I have swum 33.3km in a single day before, but spreading it out over multiple days is entirely different, and I'm still unsure which is harder!
Additionally, I chose to compete in the skins category because I'm on a waiting list for a double crossing of the Strait of Gibraltar without a wetsuit. UltraSwim 33.3 #3Croatia was a perfect opportunity to test my ability to swim without a wetsuit in water temperatures of 18-20 degrees Celsius.
“I have swum 33.3km in a single day before, but spreading it out over multiple days is entirely different, and I’m still unsure which is harder!”
Q: How does your swimming speed now compare to when you were 20 and when you were 40?
It’s difficult to compare as I primarily raced in pools during my 20s to 40s. My best times were 1:57 for the 200m freestyle and 2:13 for the 200m medley, with a 100m freestyle in 55 seconds. At 46, I swam the 200m freestyle in 2 minutes flat, ranking 7th globally in the 45-50 category for 2009.
After a skiing accident in 2009, I shifted to open water swimming. For a while after the accident, I continued to compete in short pool races however, despite finishing second on a couple of races in the 2013 European Master Championship, I didn’t feel good, and I knew I had to switch things up, to something less painful on my heart and lungs. That’s when I began to explore open water swimming.
Things are totally different now, these days in training, I aim to swim 4km in an hour in the pool with my beach shorts on and 4.7-5 km/hour during races, especially with a wetsuit. Open water swimming has many variables like buoys, waves, wind, and currents that affect my speed though!
Q: How much do you swim each week (hours and distance)?
I plan my next season in November, aiming for four races per year which I like to switch up. Preparation for a race takes about four months. I swim in the pool five days a week, covering 5-6km in about 1.5 hours. For a 30k race, I swim 43-45km weekly, with three 10k training sessions (2.5-2.75 hours each). My training intensity varies in three-week cycles: one cool, one medium, and one hard week, repeating the cycle.
Q: How do you split your training between the pool and open water?
I always train alone in a 25m pool and use open water races as part of my training. Since open water training is not that feasible in my country, I prefer pool training for its rhythm, speed, distance knowledge, and technique. I actually haven’t had a coach since 1987.
Q: How much of your training time do you dedicate to working on technique?
I constantly focus on my technique during training, paying attention to my fingers, hand, elbow position, body position, and breathing. I never think about anything else or listen to music - this is my time to switch off and my problems just fade away. Sometimes, I use technical exercises like one-arm drills, which are very important.
Q: What is your favourite training session?
Surprisingly, my favourite training session is when I go to the gym for bodybuilding and stretching. It feels like a holiday.
Q: What (if any) other training do you do? (e.g., yoga, running, weights, etc.)
I go to the gym twice weekly for stretching and bodybuilding, specifically tailored for swimmers. At the start of the season, I also do some cycling to boost my lungs and heart.
Olivier’s top tips:
Maintain a healthy lifestyle with good food, 8-9 hours of sleep, no smoking, and minimal alcohol.
Have an annual check-up with a cardiologist, including an ultrasound and stress test on a bike.
Begin every training session with a 10-15 minute dry warm-up for shoulders, ankles, neck, and elbows.
Stretch your shoulders during training.
Ensure you feel tired after each session; train hard to race comfortably.
Use supplements wisely, including amino acids, BCAAs, vitamins, carbohydrates, curcumin, and chondroitin for joints.
Avoid training if you’ve had an argument or feel too tired or unwell. Rest is also a crucial part of training.
Q: As well as being the fastest non-wetsuit swimmer at UltraSwim 33.3 Croatia earlier this year, what other open water races have you won recently?
This year, after UltraSwim 33.3 #3Croatia, I won the overall title at a 5k race in Ibiza (Copa di Espagna) out of 147 swimmers, finishing in 1 hour and 7 minutes with a wetsuit. I also placed 9th overall out of 141 in the Oceanman Lago d’Orta in Italy (8k, wetsuit) and took first place overall out of 81 swimmers in the 5k Open Swim Star Harmonie Mutuelle in La Baule, France, with a time of 1 hour 8 minutes (wetsuit).
Last year was great. I secured second place overall at the Oceanman Costa Azahar (Spain) 10k with a time of 2 hours 8 minutes (wetsuit), finishing just 4 seconds behind Bertrand Venturi. I also competed in the Flow des Gabarriers near Cognac, France, where I finished 3rd overall out of 34 swimmers in the 33k race, clocking 6 hours 45 minutes (wetsuit). Additionally, I set my personal best at the Oceanman Lago d’Orta (Italy) 14k with a time of 3 hours 2 minutes, placing 4th overall out of 179. In fact, the three guys ahead of me were ages 32, 20, and 24 respectively! In the Ultraebre (Spain) 31k skin swim, I finished second out of 38 swimmers, 12 minutes faster than the previous year, with a time of 5 hours 15 minutes. Again, the guy who finished ahead of me here was only 28 years old and he finished 4 minutes ahead of me!
“Your Body Can Stand Anything: Convince Your Mind First”
- Vincent Lombardi
The Key to Swimming Success
As event organisers, one of the best parts of our jobs is watching swimmers cross the 33.3km finish line. We're not talking about the first ones to do so (although, well done because what an achievement!) no, we're talking about the 90% of swimmers who swim better, faster, or further than they thought themselves capable.
Back at our first event in 2022, the weather was rough and everything was a 'first'. From the first start line, the first finish line, the first finisher, the first swimmer to abandon the course - everything was a bit unknown in our new, multi-day event format of UltraSwim 33.3.
Fast forward two years and we'd like to say, with significantly more experience and a world-class team, we know what to expect.
However, there's just one thing that keeps creeping back consistently:
swimmers' doubts in the lead-up to the event or on the start line.
“If you have made it to the start line, you’re 90% of the way there and that’s 100% better than everyone else who stayed at home!”
Swimmers on the start line of #3Croatia ©Vincent Curutchet / UltraSwim 33.3
"It's totally normal to have doubts," says UltraSwim 33.3's Founder and CEO, Mark Turner. "33.3km over four days is a daunting challenge for most swimmers."
"In the lead-up to each event, our team gets a lot of questions along the lines of "am I ready?", "What if I'm slow?", "What if I don't make the cut off time?". We answer each question to the best of our ability but the truth is, we actually KNOW you can do it."
"Not everyone will make it to each finish line, for various reasons but the overwhelming majority of swimmers who have doubts, cross those finish lines and are the only ones surprised! We see it time and again again where swimmers push their limits and with the support of the community, achieve above and beyond what they thought was possible."
DOUBTS? WHAT DOUBTS?
DISCOVER OUR GALLERY OF EPIC FINISHES 📸
HONOUR THE SPORT YOU LOVE BY PROTECTING IT: BY ANNE-CÉCILE TURNER
Anne-Cécile Turner shares some tips to increase your impact
Anne-Cécile Turner is Founder of the sustainability consultancy BLOOMUP, helping sport event organisers, international brands and NGOs to motivate decision-makers and employees to integrate sustainable practices.
Today she shares tips on how we can all play our part in protecting the sport we love.
Anne-Cécile takes part in UltraSwim 33.3 #3Croatia
Protecting the Sport We Love: A Call to Action
Sport is where, in terms of impact, we can demonstrate equal consideration to people and planet. When it comes to impact (or sustainability might be your preferred term), most people automatically think of the environment, but there are two more key pillars; social and economic.
So as players in the international scene of sporting events, we must ask ourselves, what role do we play? How can we contribute? And what actions can we take towards a better future?
Perfection can sometimes be the enemy of progress and that’s not what impact is about.
It is common to feel overwhelmed or take the approach of ‘leave it to the experts’ but the truth is, in all aspects of our own lives, we are the experts. Only we know what areas of our own lives we can change On their own, this might not seem to make a difference, but believe me, those small changes amount to big impact.
Impact is about doing what you can with the resources and knowledge you have. It’s about being mindful of your surroundings and contributing in small but important and consistent ways.
We’ve seen first-hand how Mother Nature offers us so much through the places we swim. It is important to protect the environment, as not only do we depend on it for life, but we also want to ensure the generations of swimmers that follow us, can enjoy it as we do.
Beyond conscious efforts to protect the environment of open water that is our racetrack, we also know swimming has a profoundly positive effect on mental health. This is a powerful tool we can each use to positively contribute to society. By supporting, sharing and caring for your fellow swimmers, the impact on people’s lives at the ripple effect that follows is not to be underestimated.
From participating in the last two Ultraswim 33.3 events, I have heard the most incredible stories from fellow participants on how the sport of swimming has changed their lives for the better.
“People find solace in this sport, and it becomes a place of peace. In a way, it becomes the place we feel most at home. ”
Swimmers embrace on the finish line of the final day of UltraSwim 33.3 #3Croatia
I believe it is the responsibility of events to lead the way and set the tone for sustainable practices. International sporting events have the potential to bring people together in a way most other organisations don’t. There is therefore great potential to address these issues and influence change.
The first step is always the hardest but in our current climate, it is essential we all play our part to protect the sport we collectively love so much.
How you can contribute as a swimmer
Optimise your travel: use the train as much as possible, limit the use of planes, stay longer and deeper in each destination instead of « consuming travel », car-share, use public transport, and the last thing once you’ve done all that is to…
Offset your travel: you can compensate the remaining amount of your carbon footprint from flights and travel to events by supporting SeaTrees. This enables you to compensate for your travel and minimise your impact on our ocean planet.
Do your own research: Knowledge is power, and when it comes to your impact, there’s nothing more important than being in the know. Whether you’re researching sustainable swimming gear, mapping out a more sustainable travel plan or researching local community initiatives, the information is at your fingertips - use it!
Say ‘no’ to single-use plastic: Prioritise eco-friendly practices throughout your activities. Extend your efforts in saying no to single-use plastic in your day-to-day life. (Always travel with reusable water bottles and mugs, preferably not in plastic)
Talk with friends and family: The more we openly talk about the impact of climate change and other environmental degradation, the greater our impact can be to address the threats posed. Share your ideas on how we can all do better. Talk with friends and family about the impact you see on marine life when you’re swimming.
Be inclusive: When you find the sport you love, you also find your tribe. If nothing else you will share a deep love for your sport. Even if you don’t have a lot in common with your fellow swimmers, you will always share this powerful bond. All swimmers should aim to be non-judgmental and inclusive of each other and recognise that our differences are our strengths.
3 REASONS TO MAKE #7CROATIA YOUR NEXT EPIC ADVENTURE!
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
We're inviting you to step out of your comfort zone with us.
Swim 33.3km (the English Channel distance) spread over 4 days, 6 swims, in the EPIC location of Hvar, Croatia.
3 Reasons to Make Croatia Your Next Epic Swim Adventure
Seriously. This is Nikki, you might remember this video (which by the way is one of the most viewed on our channels) which is proof that with the right level of determination and training, you can accomplish anything. Swimming 33.3km across 4 days is a huge undertaking, but equally, as we witness time and time again as event organisers, as swimmers you are always capable of so much more than you think.
If there's even so much as a niggle telling you to consider an UltraSwim 33.3, now is the time to sign up and back yourself. We have the training plans, we have the logistics, we have the platform... but only you can take that step. You know... the one out of your comfort zone 😉
“I have made friends for life... all from a 4-day trip”
Once again, we facilitate opportunities for swimmers to get together socially, but since UltraSwim 33.3's inception, we have witnessed some beautiful friendships form, with some swimmers coming back together.
Whether it’s finding your ‘time tribe’ (the swimmers who average the same time and ability as you, that you might work together with on the water) or swapping tips and tricks - everyone is looking out for one another. Lifelong memories are made and valuable friendships are formed. We are proud to say we are so much more than just a race
Welcome to Hvar, it will take your breath away (and that's before the swimming!) This is the sunniest location in Europe and we love it. Whether you plan to delve a little deeper into the culture of the ancient town of Stari Grad, or explore the stunning streets of Hvar Town - there are so many reasons to choose #7Croatia as your event choice for 2025.
That's above the surface, beneath the surface, the crystal clear water temperatures averaged 20°C and the wildlife was beyond compare. In fact... we even had dolphins on the race course! Oh... and did we mention our point-to-point course takes you to some of the most exclusive bays in the region that are only accessible by water...
Tempted? You won't regret it. Why not take some time this weekend to read the reviews on RaceCheck and this time next year this could be you!
“MY PARENTS LIED TO ME, YOURS PROBABLY DID TOO 😱”
In #3Croatia we were lucky enough to have our partner team Precision Fuel & Hydration on site during the event. With Chris ‘Minty’ Harris taking part, and brothers and Founder Andy and Dave Blow monitoring and documenting his experience, we are delighted to be able to share their first-hand discoveries with you. Over to you Minty!
I'm going to dive right in today and share my recent experience at UltraSwim 33.3.
Chris Harris on the start line of #3Croatia outside the Valamar Hotel in Stari Grad, Hvar.
During six swims in four days, covering the distance of the English Channel, I discovered chafing in areas I never knew possible. I also learned 5 useful lessons...
Challenging Childhood Myths and Embracing Truths
1. My parents lied to me, yours probably did too 😱
"Don't swim within two hours of eating" is something most of us were told as kids, but it turns out, you absolutely can.
Like a bunch of rebellious teenagers (who discovered neoprene and goggles rather than ciggies and alcohol), we ignored our parents' warnings and carbed up before each swim.
Many of us even took a final hit of carbohydrate 30 minutes before getting into the water.
2. STARTING hydrated is crucial 💧
I knew I wasn't going to be able to drink much during each swim, so I preloaded with a 500ml (16oz) bottle of PH 1500 electrolytes before every stage...
I weighed myself before and after each swim, and lost between ~0.88 and ~1.25L (~30-44oz) per hour. Yes, you do sweat when you swim!
I only consumed an average of ~46ml (~2oz) per hour during the event, mainly because the group I was swimming with wasn't keen on hanging around at the aid stations. However, I was sure to rehydrate with a second bottle of PH 1500 after each swim to prepare for the next day.
3. It's possible to hit decent fueling numbers in the water ⛽
Ultraswimmer Andy Donaldson told me that he targets a Tour de France rider-esque ~100g of carb per hour during his record-breaking swims (although he has the benefit of a feed boat next to him).
I practised fueling during my longer training sessions in the pool to help train my gut. And I comfortably consumed ~89g/h during the longest 11.3km (7-mile) stage, between stashing plenty of gels up my wetsuit sleeves and prioritising eating over drinking at the aid stations.
Thanks to Raff for using this flattering image in the graphic that went out to our 34k Instagram followers... 🤦
I fuelled this one pretty well. But if you want to know how the best in the world fuel in the open water, check out this hAndy guide. It features 3 feeding drills Mr Donaldson put together with us in Croatia. 👀
4. Find the right fuel format ✅
Whatever your event, it's worth working out in advance which fuel formats you'll use. I had planned to pick up Carb Only Drink Mix at the aid stations but only managed a few sips. Thankfully, I stuffed the sleeves of my wetsuit with PF 30 Caffeine Gels to eat on the go and got the rest of my carbs in by smashing regular gels at each aid station.
Other swimmers got creative with where they stashed their gels too...
5. There's always another BHAG 🍋
Every year at work we set ourselves a Big Hairy Audacious Goal. In '24 mine definitelydidn't include swimming 33.3km. However, since a running injury curtailed my training for the Edinburgh marathon I embraced the pivot to spending more time marinating in chlorine.
As Dougal Allan says in this piece, "In this game, we're all between injuries".
I took Dougal's advice to focus on what I could do. I'm confident that the training I put in for Ultraswim will help my performance at my other BHAG, the IRONMAN® 70.3® World Championships in Taupo in December. 💪🏻
Fueling the Feeding Frenzy 🦈
Rumour has it, ultra swimmers can smell a single drop of 2:1 glucose:fructose gel in the water from 2 miles away. 🤔
The athletes cleaned out our stocks of PF 30 Gels at the event, so next year, "we're gonna need a bigger boat..."
As much as I enjoyed the change in focus of my training, I'm glad to see the backside of those long swims... 😉🩲
Minty
#CROATIA KICKS OFF IN STYLE!
~Press Release~
ULTRASWIM 33.3 - ATHLETES FROM 20 COUNTRIES TO COMPETE IN EPIC ADVENTURE SWIM RACE™ IN CROATIA
Competitors will attempt to swim the 33.3km course - the iconic distance of the English Channel - from the ancient town of Stari Grad, to Hvar Town.
The Mayor of Stari Grad Antonio Škarpa made a surprise appearance and joined the swimmers for the 1km warm-up swim from Stari Grad to Places Hotel by Valamar. 📸 Vincent Curutchet
Croatia Kicks Off in Style with UltraSwim 333
Thursday 16 May 2024
Stari Grad, Hvar, Croatia
UltraSwim 33.3 - the new Epic Adventure Swim Race Series™ - kicks off tomorrow in Hvar, Croatia, with over 100 swimmers from 20 different countries taking on the event’s 33.3km challenge.
The event consists of a new multi-day swim race format, positioned between the many one-day 10km marathons or shorter races, and the super-long distance challenge swims, such as the English Channel.
UltraSwim 33.3 is inspired by the iconic distance between England and France, with swimmers aiming to complete the equivalent Dover-Calais distance of 33.3km, spread over four days and six swims, in much warmer locations than the English Channel.
The event launched a pilot back in 2022 with just 30 swimmers, and saw its first successful public event in Montenegro in October 2023. After launching three further events for this year in Hvar, Croatia, Skopelos, Greece and Herceg Novi, Montenegro - over 95% of competitors from 2023 are returning for 2024. #3Croatia will take place from Friday 17th May to Monday 20th May.
Each day the swimmers will face a different leg of the 33.3km distance, with a marathon day of 11km on Sunday 19 May. The point-to-point course will take place around the stunning island of Hvar, Croatia with refuelling stops in exclusive bays between swims. The course will also involve several challenges such as a channel crossing, battling the coastal winds of the Adriatic Sea and the tough currents between smaller islands.
Mark Turner, Founder of UltraSwim 33.3 said: “We created UltraSwim 33.3 through a love of open-water swimming and a desire to create a new event that inspires people and gives them the platform to push themselves out of their comfort zone and benefit from it.”
“Our event is incredibly diverse in terms of ability, we always say, it might not be for everyone, but everyone can do it. With the proper training, any determined swimmer can complete an UltraSwim 33.3.”
“We are excited to kick things off tomorrow here in Hvar, and we are grateful to our destination partners, the tourism boards of Stari Grad and Hvar Town for making our event here in Croatia possible.”
As the series continues to expand with three confirmed events in 2024, the ambition is to reach five events in 2025.
For further information, please contact: comms@ultraswim333.com or visit www.ultraswim333.com
~Ends~
IMPACT: OUR PROMISE
The oceans, bays, and lakes of the world are our racetrack. We work to care for and protect our swimmers and the environments we swim in, which are at the heart of the sport we love.
Making a Lasting Impact with UltraSwim 333
Why impact is important to us
We chose the word impact because we feel equal consideration to people as well as the environment. These two elements must go hand in hand if we are to take action towards a better future.
As a new format of event in the world of open water swimming, we have the opportunity with UltraSwim 33.3 to get things right. We know nobody is perfect (event or person!) and that’s not what impact is about. Impact is about doing what you can with the resources and knowledge you have, it’s about being mindful of your surroundings and contributing in small but important and consistent ways.
We’ve seen first hand how Mother Nature offers us so much through the places we swim. It is important to protect the environment, as not only do we depend on it for life, but we also want to ensure the generations of swimmers that follow us, can enjoy it as we do.
At UltraSwim 33.3 we have seen swimmers leave our events as better people, having accomplished goals they never thought possible, and having created relationships with different cultures and new languages, taking lifelong memories. We aim to do exactly the same with the locations we visit, we want to leave them better than we found them.
We also know swimming has a profoundly positive effect on mental health, and honestly, this is the reason we do what we do. We strive to make our events as inclusive as possible and we expect our partners and swimmers to do the same.
Our ever-growing diverse group of participants brings together individuals with different backgrounds, different abilities, with different experiences and perspectives - all coming together on a multi-day event, united by the love of swimming. We ask all swimmers to be non-judgmental and inclusive of other participants, our staff and our host venues and recognise that our differences are our strengths.
So join us at our events, and keep reading to join our collective effort towards a more sustainable future.
How we contribute as an event
Mental Health: We are committed to promoting and encouraging the uptake of swimming as a huge benefit to mental health and wellbeing, as well as supporting of course the growing 33.3 family of swimmers. We are seeking a global mental health charity to support across all our events.
Diversity, Representation and Inclusion: Our swimmers come from all backgrounds, all shapes and sizes, and have different experiences and abilities. We relish having diversity and are advocates for inclusion in swimming. We are proud to have such a diverse group of swimmers.
Carbon Net-Positive: with our partner bloomUp we measure our carbon footprint for each event - and firstly work hard to reduce as much as possible, accepting the fact we are a sport tourism event that is of course encouraging people to travel to our event. We offset our unavoidable emissions with SeaTrees by Sustainable Surf. Their certified scheme provides us with a tangible way to plant and protect blue carbon coastal systems. UltraSwim 33.3 specifically supports the South Cardamom REDD+ Project in Cambodia and the planting of mangroves in Mida Creek region in Kenya.
Reducing Our Footprint: We have banned single-use plastic in the event rules, and we provide aluminium bottles and lend reusable dry bags to athletes to encourage best practices. We encourage the swap out of merchandise and products we provide - so that our clients don’t amass duplicates of anything we provide them by attending more than one event (almost all our 33.3 swimmers so far are back for more). We recognise a large part of our environmental footprint is the fuel for our safety and transfer boats - even if our first line of safety is a big group of muscle powered kayaks! We are actively pushing for electric charging installations with Aqua Power Marine at the venues we are hosting events, and we encourage our local suppliers to move to electric - this would be the dream for all our swimming events. No noise, no fumes, limited carbon footprint boat support. We continue to push all our suppliers to provide us with goods where we need them without any plastic packaging, using bio-degradable solutions instead. In all these aspects, we want to lobby and campaign with the local authorities and commerce to hear our arguments on these points - whether its convincing the local supermarket to stop pushing out plastic bags, or to drink what is invariably good tap water rather than yet more plastic - so much of which ends up in our oceans.
IUCN Sports for Nature Framework: We are committed signatories of The Sports for Nature Framework, which was created in 2023 to tap into sports’ enormous potential to drive positive change. The Framework aims to deliver transformative, nature-positive action across sports by 2030 and beyond. As part of our efforts to protect biodiversity, we are pursuing solutions for two essential swimmer products: non-toxic, non-marine life-threatening suntan lotions and non-petroleum hydrocarbon friction creams. We also have a development project to build in water quality measurement devices into the tow floats (swim buoys) that all our swimmers are obliged to use for safety (visibility).
How you can contribute as a swimmer
Offset your travel: Like us, you can eliminate, or at least compensate for, your carbon footprint from flights and travel to our events by supporting SeaTrees. This enables you to compensate for your travel and have a positive impact on our ocean planet. We have already done this for all your travel, footprint (from food to accommodation and everything that happens at the event, electricity to logistics), from the moment you land at the nearest airport. We’d love for you to close the circuit and make the necessary contribution via Sea Trees for your own travel from home.
Swimmer’s Charter: Our 10-point action charter is signed by all participants at the time of registration so that we are a collective of individuals each contributing to better our planet, and lobbying others to do the same.
Say ‘no’ to single-use plastic: We prioritise eco-friendly practices throughout our event and we encourage you to extend your efforts in saying no to single-use plastic beyond UltraSwim 33.3.
Talk with friends and family: The more we openly talk about the impact of climate change and other environmental degradation, the greater our impact can be to address the threats posed. Share your ideas with us as an event on how we can do better. Talk with friends and family about what impact you see on marine life when you’re swimming.
Be inclusive: When you join UltraSwim 33.3 you join Club 33.3 which is made up of so many others who love swimming. While we share this in common, there are many differences between us. We ask all swimmers to be non-judgmental and inclusive of other participants, our staff and our host venues and recognise that our differences are our strengths.
Our collaborations
bloomUp: A global consultancy agency leader in sustainability, innovation and active lifestyle. bloomUp provides measurable and scalable solutions such as our Carbon Footprint Measurement for each event. This enables us to implement best practices and achieve our environmental protection goals.
SeaTrees by Sustainable Surf: Not only do we compensate for the event’s unavoidable carbon footprint, we double it with an accredited scheme. Sustainable Surf’s programs, such as SeaTrees, work to plant, protect, and restore coastal ecosystems. We are proud to work with an organisation that activates people to live a more sustainable, ocean-positive life.
Pullout quote: On the topic of participation and inclusion, UltraSwim 33.3 Founder Mark Turner said: “I’ve worked in many sports over the years and without a doubt open water swimming is the most diverse in every sense of the word. Considering age, background, ability, weight, shape size, class - swimming truly is becoming a sport for everyone, and is the one sport we can also keep on doing pretty well until we die, and always in contact with nature! It’s what makes it so special and why it’s growing so fast.
SWIM, CONNECT, COMPETE
Explore Affiliate Events leading up to UltraSwim 33.3
The UltraSwim 333 Spirit
There’s just a few days to go to UltraSwim 33.3 #3Croatia, and getting to the start line is no small feat. As we told our swimmer’s at the mandatory swimmer briefing last night, ‘there is no amount of training that will make a difference now, it’s time to unwind, try to relax and enjoy your unique journey from this moment on!’
So as we were saying… Getting to the start line of one of our events requires determination, grit and a well thought out training plan. Of course our experts are here to help, however as the spectrum of opportunities available to swimmers in the open water events space grows, we want to take the opportunity to introduce our Affiliate Events.
Whether you’re looking to explore the global open water swimming community, build up to an UltraSwim 33.3, or simply diversify your swimming calendar, these events are a fantastic opportunity to do all three!
We’ve picked four of the very best events, from our own experiences, to collaborate with - the classic Henley Swims and Thames Marathon in the UK, Best Fest in Mallorca Spain, and the Open Swim Stars circuit in France. We know each event offers a different experience, so as you explore stepping stones in your journey to completing 33.3km - why not check out some of these great options.
We think these shorter but iconic swim events will help you prepare both mentally and physically for the 33.3 multi-day challenge.
When: 25-31 May 2024
Where: Colònia de Sant Jordi, Mallorca, Spain
Connection: A fantastic opportunity to put your swimming skills to the test ahead of UltraSwim 33.3
Discover the excitement of Best Fest, Europe’s number one open water swimming festival held annually in Colònia de Sant Jordi.
This week-long festival offers swimmers everything from social events to open water competitions with a festive atmosphere, appealing to all levels, in an area renowned for its beautiful beaches.
Best Fest features swim events ranging from 1.5 km and 3.8km triathlon style courses, a point to point 5km, and a full 10km swim (5 laps). It is a fantastic opportunity to explore varying open water swimming distances ahead of UltraSwim 33.3. The dates fall perfectly with the start of the open water swimming season in Europe and allow plenty of time to discover your limits and ultimately push them using our fantastic training and coaching program available to all UltraSwim 33.3 participants.
The event’s coaching partner in 2024 is Paul Newsome, winner of #2Montenegro in 2023.
Outdoor Swimmer Henley Swim Festival
When: 13-14 July 2024
Where: Henley-upon-Thames, United Kingdom
Connection: Great events for swimmers of all levels, Henley Swim offers ‘something for everyone’.
A fellow Racecheck gold-rated event, Henley Swim Festival is a weekend celebrating open water swimming, set in the most stunning location on the banks of the Thames just outside Henley. This river swim event has a variety of swimming challenges covering different distances, there are exhibitors, retailers and experts all together in one place – giving you access to everything you need to know about our shared and much-loved adventurous sport.
Whether you’re looking to dip a toe in the world of open water swimming, find a fellow UltraSwim 33.3 participant to train with or just rack up your swimming kilometres in open water, this festival has something that will appeal to everyone.
When: 11 August 2024 (Thames Marathon)
Where: Marlow, United Kingdom
Connection: The perfect place to meet like-minded swimmers and begin your UltraSwim 33.3 journey.
The Thames Marathon is an endurance swim between Henley-on-Thames and Marlow in the United Kingdom with a choice of 3 distances (4 swim options including relay). It covers a beautiful stretch of the Thames and has become one of open water swimming’s most prestigious marathon swims.
Each UltraSwim 33.3 event offers a 10km ‘marathon’ day swim (usually on Day 3 of the 4-day long weekend) so what better way to train than taking part in the Thames Marathon among your fellow swimmers. The perfect stepping stone as you get closer to your UltraSwim 33.3 goal!
When: A variety of dates throughout 2024
Where: A variety of locations across France and Switzerland
Connection: Fantastic one day challenges to test your open water swimming ability in an adventure setting ahead of UltraSwim 33.3 SOLO or 22.2 DUO.
Predominantly French, Open Swim Stars is a series of open water swimming races designed for participants of all ability levels, making it the perfect practice setting for the UltraSwim 33.3 multi-day swimming format. The events take place across various locations in France from Paris to the sunny town of Agde, swimmers can compete in a variety of distances to suit their experience and goals.
Explore the diversity of France with these different locations and connect with an international swimming community.
ONE MONTH TO GO UNTIL #3CROATIA!
Adventure, accomplishment and memories that will last a lifetime. Get ready for UltraSwim 33.3 #3Croatia.
THE COUNTDOWN IS ON!
The island of Hvar, primary location for UltraSwim 33.3 #3Croatia
One Month to Go!
Adventure, accomplishment and memories that will last a lifetime. Get ready for UltraSwim 33.3 #3Croatia.
PS. Only 10 spaces left for #4Greece! #5Montenegro full (waiting list available)
The third event of our Epic Adventure Swim Race Series is just around the corner and there will be several groups of people reading this email…
Those who have signed up welcome to the adventure of a lifetime. It will all be feeling very real now and we are so excited to have you all on site on the magical island of Hvar, and seriously, it is magical. Amongst you will be those returning swimmers (60% of you!) and those who are attempting the 33.3km for the first time. Whichever category you fall into, we guarantee you will have a brilliant time and trust us, when you’re grasping that 33.3 finisher’s medal… there’s no feeling like it!
Those who are seriously considering UltraSwim 33.3, is it time to step out of your comfort zone yet? There are still a few spaces left for #3Croatia but only 30 days of training left so if you are considering signing up, now is the time to do it - just make sure you meet the minimum requirements to take part. If you’re thinking of taking part in #4Greece (only 10 spaces left!) or any of our 2025 events, be sure to keep an eye on our content from #3Croatia - it will give you insight into what to expect! See you on the other side ;)
Don’t forget you can secure your space with a refundable €500 deposit here
Those who are interested but unsure we hear you, 33.3km is a big deal but there is something we know for certain - and that is our event is accessible and achievable for any determined open water swimmer. With the 2025 calendar now open, there is plenty of time to commit and train. With the help of our coaches you’ll build confidence in no time. Take a look at our website to decide if UltraSwim 33.3 is right for you and take some time to look through our FAQs.
There’s always self-doubt, particularly ahead of securing your space and on the start line of your first swim, however in our experience, with every stroke you take, those doubts subside and you’re left accomplishing more than you thought possible. And as organisers, there is nothing more satisfying than witnessing this transition first hand!
Our team are always on standby to help if you have any questions
Useful links to explore Hvar, Europe’s sunniest island
Get to know Hvar Town (start) and Hvar through the Hvar Tourism Board
Discover the stunning and ancient villages of Stari Grad (finish) through Stari Grad Tourism
2025 ULTRASWIM 33.3 ENTRIES NOW OPEN!
The brand-new Epic Adventure Swim Race Series™ calendar for 2025 includes #7Croatia, #9Greece and #10Montenegro.
Looking for your next big challenge and the adventure of a lifetime? We’ve got you…
Secure Your Spot Now
#3Croatia is fast approaching (50 days to go), #5Montenegro 2024 is sold out and our #4Greece the pioneer edition has just a dozen places left, so we’re opening up 2025 now.
We’re expecting to fill up 2025 events fast (even if it’s a year out!) - so reserve your space with a fully refundable (within 30 days) deposit, that can also be rolled over to a different event at a later date* if your circumstances change.
As many of you know, our ambition is to host up to 5 editions in 2025, which will include:
#7CROATIA: The ‘Islands’ Edition
📅 When: 16-19 May 2025
📍 Where: Stari Grad-Hvar, Croatia
🏖️Uniqueness: Europe’s sunniest island, you’ll swim along the regions most exclusive coastline between two 12th century villages, and past beaches and islands only accessible by water with plenty to discover both above and below the surface
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT #7
#9GREECE: The ‘Mamma Mia’ Edition
📅 When: 19-22 September 2025
📍 Where: Skopelos, Greece
🏝️Uniqueness: Greece’s greenest island with unspoilt wild coastlines and secret beaches as well of course home to the cult film Mamma Mia! 100km north of Athens in the Sporades, at the end of summer you can expect the warmest waters of our epic series!
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT #9
#10MONTENEGRO: The ‘Fjords to the Sea’ Edition
📅 When: 3-6 October 2025
📍 Where: Herceg Novi, Montenegro
🗻 Uniqueness: Enjoy the challenge of a country to country channel crossing, swim through an abandoned submarine pen, around a prison island and of course through the famous Blue Cave all in one loop of the undeveloped Lustica peninsula and its rugged Adriatic coastline.
DISCOVER MORE ABOUT #10
“AM I FAST ENOUGH?”
We hear this question *a lot*, so we thought we’d provide some insights in the form of a good old-fashioned chart to put your mind at ease.
“Am I fast enough for UltraSwim 33.3?”
We hear this question *a lot*, so we thought we’d provide some insights in the form of a good old-fashioned chart to put your mind at ease.
Is Speed the Only Metric?
FIRSTLY - 90% of our participants worry about their speed, ok, so you’re not alone. UltraSwim 33.3 is a tough challenge - but accessible to any determined open water swimmer and our team is here to help you every step of the way.
Here’s what you need to know:
This chart shows the distribution of speeds in km/h from 120 swimmers at #2Montenegro in 2023
Our cut-off times are based on 2km/h in good conditions, for which we estimate you should be able to swim at least 2.5km in one hour in a pool.
The average swimmer speed across the timed sections of the 33.3km course in Montenegro was 2.9km/h
Nearly 60% of swimmers averaged less than 3km/h
Less than 9% in #2Monetenegro 2023 didn’t make a cut off time on one or more of the 5 timed stages (but still started all the stages)
Less than 20% in #1Monetengro 2022 didn’t make a cut-off time (colder and rougher conditions)
Ps. The challenge will always be there, no matter where your speed lives on the curve!
GOOD LUCK!
#4GREECE NOW OPEN - #5MONTENEGRO SOLD OUT!
We have sold out of all ULTRA+ packages for #5Montenegro, but have a handful of ULTRA spots available!
120 swimmers discover the famous Blue Cave at the start of Day 3 at #2Montenegro
Greece Spots Now Open
It’s been a busy time here at UltraSwim 33.3 HQ! We have two bits of important news:
#5Montenegro is SOLD OUT!
#4Greece is NOW OPEN!
#4Greece is now open! Mamma Mia… this IS exciting 😉
🇬🇷 #4GREECE - THE ‘MAMMA MIA’ EDITION 🇬🇷
13-16 September 2024
OPEN NOW and on a first come first serve basis, there are very limited spaces available and the numbers will be smaller than a typical UltraSwim 33.3 event due to the exclusivity of #4Greece being a pioneer event*.
This will be our warmest water location of the series, as the point-to-point race course takes you around the magical island of Skopelos in the Sporades - made famous by the cult film Mamma Mia!
Expect wild and exposed coastline, varied conditions, warm water and the backdrop of the greenest island in Greece.
*An UltraSwim 33.3 pioneer event is an exclusive opportunity to take part in the discovery of a new venue for the Epic Adventure Swim Race Series™ along with our ambassadors and founders.
#5Montenegro is sold out - what does this mean?
We’re full! We have sold out of all ULTRA+ packages for #5Montenegro, but have a handful of ULTRA spots available through injury or changing circumstances (and our flexible rollover policy allows our swimmers to move their entry to a different edition or venue) - a situation we expect to continue over the coming months.
If you are interested in taking part in #5Montenegro (ULTRA package only) NOW is the time to book and we will guarantee to confirm your request one way or another within 24 hours.
In case you didn’t know, Montenegro is the founding event of our Epic Adventure Swim Race Series™, we will return for the third time in 2024 for the iconic ‘Fjords to the Sea’ Edition.
Swimmers can look forward to the challenge of a country-to-country channel crossing from Croatia to Montenegro, swimming through an abandoned submarine pen, around a prison island, and of course the famous Blue Cave (pictured above, startline of the marathon 10km swim).
As many of you know, we’ve been working hard behind the scenes to present our swimmers with another European location before the end of 2024. With #5Montenegro basically sold out, what better time to open limited spaces for our brand-new pioneer event*: