Saturday August 17, the swimming section of Aviron Bayonnais omnisports will organize the fifth edition of the Bayonne Crossing by swimming. Let’s say, for the analogy with the Olympic Games, the fifth edition of the modern era. Because the race in the Nive is a reminiscence of a time when the river was a place of swimming, where generations learned to swim.
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Swimmers pass under four bridges over the Nive.
The endurance race in a natural environment existed until 1973. An emblematic event of local sporting life reactivated in 2018 by Rowing swimmers. A return to basics only hampered by the Covid-19 health crisis, in 2020 and 2021.
New loop
The course is 1,500 meters long.
The next edition will follow its historic, very challenging form, with a 1,500-metre loop starting and finishing at the launching pontoon located in front of the Aviron Bayonnais omnisports headquarters (Maurice-Celhay clubhouse). The swimmers will then complete a loop by passing “left shoulder” around the buoys located upstream of the André-Grimard Avenue bridge, before swimming downstream to turn in front of the Basque Museum and go up the Nive to the starting point. This is where they will have to touch the finish plate.
The organization is adding something new this year, with an 800-meter loop, positioned inside the 1,500-meter course. Same starting and ending point, similar route, shortened by intermediate buoys. This is to open the event to a wider audience, albeit good swimmers. “We start at the stall, between two tides. But even with this precaution, the last ones are fighting against the current on the way back, it’s complicated,” describes Patrick Carrey, president of the Rowing swimming section.
200 places
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The arrival plaque, on the Aviron pontoon.
The race attracts swimmers of national caliber or higher. The best went under 20 minutes over the kilometer and a half. Count at least double for the back of the peloton.
Registrations are already open, via the Pays basque organisation website. 200 places are available. The registration fee is 15 euros, until July 31, and 18 from July 1is August. Two age categories: juniors, born in 2009 or 2010 and those born before 2009. Minors must provide parental certification.
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The best swimmers manage to go under 20 minutes.
Crossing, instructions for use
Collection of transponders (chip bracelets necessary for time accounting) will be done in the event village, at the Maurice-Celhay club house (1, rue Owen-Roë), between 1:15 p.m. and 2:45 p.m., on Saturday August 17, 2024. To collect their transponder, each participant must present a valid identity document, as well as any documents necessary for registration which have not been downloaded from the pb-organization website during the registration. ‘registration.
No additional registrations will be recorded on the day of the event. For safety and signaling reasons, each swimmer will be required to wear the transponder provided by the organization during the entire race.
The organization only authorizes the wearing of swimsuits, neoprene suits, caps and goggles or masks. All other swimming aid equipment is prohibited, unless an exemption is validated by the organization prior to registration.
Swimmers must arrive at least thirty minutes before the start of the race to attend the briefing, equipped with their transponder.
