The VI Gandia Beach Swimming Channel Crossing / Gandia 2026 brought open wa301 registered participants taking part in this increasingly popular endurance event.

Held at Playa de Gandía, in Gandía / Gandia, Valencia, Spain , the race t

The race distance for this year’s event was 2,200 metres (2.2km),wetsuits were mandatory, helping swimmers maintain buoyancy and comfort throughout the race.

The event began with a busy and energetic start from the beach, as swimmers entered the water together before settling into their individual rhythms. As the race progressed, the field quickly spread out along the canal, with stronger swimmers pushing ahead while others focused on maintaining a steady pace over the full 2.2km course.

Conditions on the day were favourable, with relatively calm waters inside the canal allowing for consistent swimming lines and good visibility for both participants and spectators. The layout of the course also made it easier for those watching from the beach to follow the progress of the swimmers as they moved up and down the marked route.

At the front of the race, the competition was strong. Jaime Marqués Velasco took first place overall, followed by Isaac Navalón in second and Pol Feito in third, showing the depth of talent across different age categories.

In the female category, Julia Lapeña Ruiz delivered an impressive performance to take first place, finishing in a time of 32:12.9. She was followed by Alba Castro in second place, with Marina Camps Mansilla completing the podium in third.

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Beyond the leading swimmers, the event was notable for its wide participation, with athletes of varying ages and abilities taking part. Many competitors were representing local and national swimming clubs, while others were independent swimmers looking to challenge themselves in open water conditions.

The Travesía Canal de Nado Playa de Gandía continues to grow each year, becoming an established part of the “aguas abiertas” (open water) calendar in the Valencia region. Its combination of accessible distance, organised course, and attractive coastal setting makes it a popular choice for both returning participants and newcomers to the sport.

Events like this highlight the increasing popularity of open water swimming in Spain, where coastal locations such as Gandía provide ideal conditions for both training and competition.

With strong participation numbers and competitive racing at the front, the 2026 edition once again proved to be a successful and well-supported event on the Mediterranean sporting calendar.