Garrido and Sasu win the 31st San Gines Swim in Arrecife

Arrecife's seafront turned into a race course on Saturday morning for the 31st Travesia San Gines, the open water swim organised by the Real Club Nautico de Arrecife as part of the capital's patron saint celebrations. More than 200 swimmers of all ages took part, watched by crowds spread along the coast.

The main race covered 1,200 metres, starting from La Rocar beach and finishing at the Club Nautico slipway. Close to 200 swimmers lined up, and the field was followed from the whole length of the Avenida Maritima, with the passage under the arches of the historic Puente de las Bolas providing the day's defining images. Jacobo Garrido and Natalia Emilia Sasu took the overall wins.

The morning opened with the youth categories, over distances adjusted to each age group near the club. The youngest swimmers, the prebenjamin group, covered 100 metres. In the benjamin category, over 400 metres, Alexander Delgado (Nadamas), Nicolas Conceiro (Fuertri) and Gabriel Martin (Nonadamos) filled the boys' podium, while Laia Ines Lopez (Nonadamos), Ariadna Martin (Nadamas) and Sofia Maria Fuernica (Nonadamos) led the girls' race.

The alevin category raced 800 metres. Aaron Mederos (Nonadamos), Lois Chantada (Nadamas) and Albert Arben (Metropole) took the boys' places; Andrea Fraga, Nahia Escudero and Chloe Vaz, all from Nadamas, swept the girls' podium.

The event was the second swim of the season counting towards the 12th Lanzarote Open Water Swimming Cup.

Open water swimming around the island

Lanzarote's open water calendar runs across several coastal towns through the year, and the San Gines swim is among the best attended because it coincides with the Arrecife festivities. For visitors curious about swimming in the Atlantic here, the bay of Arrecife is one of the calmer stretches of coast, sheltered from the prevailing trade winds. Basic precautions still apply: swim with company, wear a brightly coloured cap so boats can see you, and check the sea state before entering, as conditions can differ considerably from one side of the island to the other.