22nd Sines Bay Open Water Swim
The iconic open water swimming race returns to Praia Vasco da Gama on 14 June 2026, gathering swimmers from across Portugal in Sines Bay. A morning of sport, sea and camaraderie in the heart of the Alentejo Coast.
The 22nd Sines Bay Open Water Swim (Prova de Mar Baía de Sines) takes place on 14 June 2026, between 10:00 and 13:00, turning Praia Vasco da Gama, in the heart of Sines Bay, into the stage for one of the most iconic open water swimming competitions on the Portuguese calendar. Organised by Clube de Natação do Litoral Alentejano (CNLA), the race is part of the XIX National Open Water Circuit run by the Portuguese Swimming Federation (FPN).
The programme features the official 3,000-metre distance for Open Water and Masters swimmers, alongside promotional 1,000 m and 400 m races open to athletes of various age groups and recreational swimmers. The naturally sheltered Sines Bay, with calm waters and mild early-summer temperatures, makes this one of the most popular venues for the sport in Portugal.
Every year the competition gathers hundreds of swimmers from federated clubs, as well as many visitors who take the opportunity to spend the weekend discovering the historic city of Vasco da Gama. Support facilities are set up near the start line on the urban beach, including changing rooms, a medical post, race secretariat and warm-up zone.
For spectators, the event is a perfect chance to stroll along the promenade, watch the dramatic finishes on the sand and enjoy the festive atmosphere on Sines' waterfront throughout the morning. The organisers also host an awards ceremony with the presence of local authorities.
Visitors to Sines can take the opportunity to explore Sines Castle, the Vasco da Gama House Museum and the Centro de Artes, or to enjoy lunch at one of the downtown restaurants, famous for fresh fish and octopus lagareiro-style. Registrations are handled via the MultiCrono website and the FPN platform.
