Prova Águas Abertas da Horta

In October 1597, the village of Horta fell to English privateers under Walter Raleigh, who razed the settlement and decimated its religious structures, including the original Church of São Salvador. Today, the blue waters of the Baía da Horta offer a far more peaceful horizon, though the seabed remains a repository of such turbulent history. As you swim the 3000m course between the harbor's docks, you are traversing the site where the American privateer General Armstrong was scuttled during the War of 1812, its captain famously baiting the Portuguese garrison to compromise their neutrality against British warships. The calm surface belies the geological intensity beneath; the Faial-Pico channel is home to submarine hydrothermal vents and the 'covas de gigante', abrasive calderas carved into the reef floor by grinding boulders that can reach depths of eight meters.

Nature and perspective

While maintaining your line, you might spot the familiar silhouettes of loggerhead sea turtles or bottlenose dolphins, as these waters are a designated Special Conservation Zone. To the east, the massive presence of Mount Pico—the highest peak in Portugal at 2,351 meters—serves as your primary visual anchor throughout the race. Turning toward the shore, the volcanic slopes of the Monte da Guia peninsula stand guard, featuring the Caldeirinhas, two twin craters that open directly into the ocean. The bay is often framed by the hydrangeas that earned Faial its nickname, the 'Ilha Azul'. For those seeking longer challenges in these Atlantic currents, the annual Faial–Pico Channel Crossing takes place in August, offering a much broader crossing of the same channel. The Prova Águas Abertas da Horta, organized by ANARA, is scheduled for October 2, 2026, welcoming both affiliated and independent swimmers to compete in individual, gender-separated categories.