Etapa Final Copa España AA — Melilla

The 5000m swim at Playa de la Hípica represents the final stage of the 2026 Spanish Open Water Cup, scheduled for September 27. Organised by the RFEN, the event takes place in the Mediterranean waters of Melilla, where the climate remains stable and warm through late September. Swimmers operate in a region defined by its history as the Phoenician trade outpost of Rusadir, a site chosen millennia ago for its command over the western Mediterranean currents.

The coastal horizon

As you navigate the 5km course, the skyline is dominated by a distinct concentration of 20th-century architecture, with Melilla housing one of the largest collections of Modernist buildings in Spain. Further along the coast, the view shifts to the stone walls of the Melilla La Vieja fortress, a 16th-century defensive complex perched on a 30-meter-high promontory. The presence of these fortifications provides a constant navigational reference point against the backdrop of the North African coast.

Marine life and environment

Beyond the architectural landmarks, the race follows a coastline where the ecological conditions support specific marine populations. The nearby Aguadú cliffs serve as a nesting habitat for colonies of Audouin's gull, a species frequently sighted along this rocky shoreline. Beneath the surface, particularly as the depth reaches 15 to 20 meters, the seabed supports complex coral formations, while the endangered mollusk Patella ferruginea clings to the limestone cliff faces. These waters are subject to the typical Mediterranean thermal moderation, ensuring consistent, predictable temperatures for the final stretch of the national cup season.