98ª Travessia Port de Barcelona

In 1864, the industrial waters of the Port of Barcelona became the testing ground for the Ictíneo II, a pioneering submarine designed by Narcís Monturiol. As the world’s first combustion-powered, air-independent vessel, it transformed local maritime history from a surface-level perspective to an underwater revolution. Today, participants in the 98ª Travessia Port de Barcelona glide through these same waters, connecting with a legacy of innovation that once sought to protect coral divers from the dangers of the deep. While the city's coastline has been reshaped by the sedimentation of the ancient island of Maians, the harbor remains a space where history and sport intersect, far removed from the modern logistical hum of the container terminals.

Navigating the port's landmarks

During your swim, your primary point of orientation is the Torre del Rellotge. Originally constructed in 1772 as a lighthouse at the edge of the western pier, this tower served as a critical reference point for the French scientists who measured the meridian to define the standard meter. Observing this historic structure from the water offers a sense of scale, contrasting the rigid precision of 18th-century science with the fluid challenge of the race. The route also skirts the base of the Montjuïc mountain, a site steeped in both tragedy and mythology; local folklore tells of Hercules discovering the wreckage of the 'Barca Nona' ship here, a discovery that legend links to the very founding of the city. Though the seabed has occasionally yielded remnants of the past, such as the 70-kilogram bomb found near San Sebastián beach in 2019, the port’s sheltered nature ensures a controlled environment for the 400m, 1000m, 2500m, and 5000m distances. Whether you are building your season's endurance or preparing for the intensity of the Radikal Ocean52, these waters provide a disciplined test of pace and orientation. For those who enjoy winter consistency, the harbor also hosts the tradition of the New Year's swim, a stark contrast to the competitive energy of the autumn race.

A hundred years inside the port

The Club Natació Atlètic held the first crossing in 1926. A German, August Heitmann, won the second edition and gave the race an international reputation; Ramon Artigas then won five years in a row. In a century the event has stopped only twice — for the civil war in 1937-38 and for the pandemic in 2020. The start moved from the portal de la Pau to today's moll de Bosch i Alsina, and since 1992 the race has been run by the merged Club Natació Atlètic-Barceloneta during the Mercè festivities.