GO Milina – Alatas

The Pagasetic Gulf hosts three distinct swimming distances on September 6, 2026, centered around the coastal village of Milina in South Pelion. Participants can choose between a 1500m course, a 3000m endurance challenge, and the 8000m 'Alatas – Aquaman' circuit, which requires a mandatory safety buoy. Entry fees range from 25 to 50 EUR depending on the distance and registration timing, with all participants receiving a timing chip, swim cap, medal, and t-shirt. The 8000m event specifically commemorates the legacy of Iason Zirganos, the Volos-born athlete who achieved international recognition for his channel crossings.

Historical currents in the water

Swimming the 8000m route involves a full circumnavigation of the island of Alatas. The shoreline here holds traces of the 1822 conflict between Greek revolutionaries and invading forces, a violent chapter that contrasts with the current silence of the gulf. As swimmers round the island, the seabed reveals a landscape shaped by both natural forces and human history. Further along the Pelion coast, observers can sight the remains of the Byzantine fortress on the Chortokastron hill, located near the submerged history of the ancient polis of Spalathra. The water also offers views toward the islet of Prasouda, where the ruins of an 11th-century church dedicated to Zoodochos Pigi stand as a silent landmark above the surface. These archaeological markers provide a constant point of reference during the long-distance effort, linking the physical exertion of the race to the ancient topography of Magnesia.