4^ Miglio Marino La SECCA

The Ligurian Sea off Arenzano shifts from a calm, mirror-like surface in the early morning to a more demanding environment as the thermal winds develop. Swimming here means navigating a basin where the depth drops rapidly just a few meters from the shoreline, a characteristic that defines the local seafloor and the intensity of the water's color. As you move through these currents, the scale of the landscape becomes apparent: the peaks of the Beigua range rise abruptly over 1000 meters, creating a steep vertical corridor that seems to plunge directly into the sea. This proximity between high-altitude terrain and the coastline is a constant companion for any swimmer training in these waters.

Historical currents and landmarks

Beyond the physical effort, the water carries the weight of 1796. The coastline you traverse was the stage for the Battle of Voltri, the opening engagement of the campaign that saw French forces retreating along this very strip of shoreline. While you follow your course, the silhouette of the Santuario di Nostra Signora delle Olivete provides a fixed reference point on the hillside, a sentinel watching over the coastal transit. Near the town center, the profile of Villa Negrotto Cambiaso marks the transition to the urban waterfront, where the historical fabric of the town meets the open sea.

The race day experience

The Miglio Marino La Secca, now in its fourth edition, brings together a community that values the technical aspects of open water swimming. Held annually, this event offers distances of 926m, 1852m, and 3000m. The logistics are managed by La Secca Società Sportiva Dilettantistica, ensuring that the local marine environment is respected during the competition. If you are building your calendar, you might look at the Albissola Swim Games, which typically takes place in late May, offering a different pacing just weeks before this event. The finish line often echoes the traditional maritime identity of the town, represented by the mosaics found in the local churchyard and the local artistic depictions of saints arriving by sea. As you exit the water, the connection between the town’s maritime heritage and the modern practice of swimming becomes clear, grounding the sport in the specific geography of the Ligurian coast.