II Travesía Brazadas Solidarias & Saca la lengua a la ELA - Vélez Málaga

Arriving in Torre del Mar, the scent of sea salt mixes with the morning humidity as you pull into the promenade area. The drive along the coast reveals a landscape shaped by centuries of maritime activity, where the modern beach front sits directly above the submerged remnants of the Punic-Roman city of Maenoba. This ancient settlement thrived as a production hub for garum, the fermented fish sauce that defined Roman culinary exports, long before the area became a transit point for modern swimmers. As you prepare your gear near the Boraz beach bar, you are standing on a shoreline that served as a critical commercial artery for the Phoenicians from the 8th century BC, with archaeological evidence at sites like Los Toscanos still marking the original river mouth jetties.

The water and the coastline

Once you enter the water, the scale of the coastline becomes clear. The 25-meter tall lighthouse stands as a silent sentinel over the race, a structure that replaced earlier maritime beacons to guide traffic along these currents. You are swimming through waters that were once patrolled by watchtowers designed to guard against the 17th-century Berber and Turkish pirate raids that frequently breached this coast. Beneath the surface, the environment remains sensitive; the nearby scrublands and coastal dunes are vital habitats for the Mediterranean chameleon, a species currently struggling for survival in the region. The race, scheduled for June 21, 2026, offers 1000m and 2500m distances, starting at 10:05 AM and 10:00 AM respectively. If your focus is on the challenge of these Andalusian waters, you might also consider the different tidal and rocky conditions found during the Acantilados Rincón de la Victoria, held in August. Participation in this Vélez-Málaga event supports the fight against ALS and the development of the Hospital Carmelo in Mozambique. The event provides a simple swimmer's bag and requires checking in between 09:00 and 09:45 at the Torre del Mar promenade to receive your bib.