9ª Travessia da Volta da Ilha do Macuco

The Travessia da Volta da Ilha do Macuco is an open water sea swimming race held in Bombinhas. Organized by Travessias Bombinhas, the competition takes swimmers across the sea around the island. The event program spans sprint heats of 200, 400, and 800 meters, a middle-distance 1,500-meter test, and the flagship 8,000-meter island circumnavigation. Held in November during the southern hemisphere's late spring, the sea generally offers comfortable swimming conditions. Safety remains paramount on the exposed offshore circuit: as occurred during the 2024 edition, organizers ensure safety by rerouting the course into the sheltered waters of Praia Central de Bombinhas.

Circling Ilha do Macuco: reserve, pairs format and time limit

Ilha do Macuco lies to the west of the Arvoredo Marine Biological Reserve, outside its limits, in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina. The Arvoredo reserve is made up of the islands of Galés, Arvoredo and Deserta and of the Calhau de São Pedro. In the 8 km pairs format of the Travessia da Volta da Ilha do Macuco, the swimmer who covers the first part, from beach to boat, hands the chip to the partner aboard the organisers' boat, who finishes the race. The 1.5 km, 800 m and 400 m races of the Travessia da Volta da Ilha do Macuco are swum at the same time as the 8 km. The time limit for the 8 km swim is 4 hours, a pace of 3 minutes per 100 metres. The previous edition, the 8th Travessia da Volta da Ilha do Macuco, was scheduled for 25 August 2024 with races of 8 km, 1.5 km and 800 m.

Praia da Conceição: monazitic sands and traditional fishing canoes

The race starts and finishes directly on the sand of Praia da Conceição, a 453-meter-long beach tucked along the Bombinhas peninsula. The cove is separated from Canto Grande Mar de Fora by a small land spit known as Ilhota, while the southern point rises into Vigia da Conceição, a natural rock formation that serves as an open viewpoint. Along the right rocky shoreline, calm natural tide pools form among the rocks, accessible either by paddling through the shallows or by walking across the boulders. Praia da Conceição is certified with the international Blue Flag label, ensuring environmental management and pristine bathing water quality.

The shoreline is also known for its monazitic sand, containing a high concentration of natural minerals traditionally credited with therapeutic properties. Along the sands, traditional fishermen's canoes rest beside the water along Avenida Dona Lindomar. The bay retains a relaxed village atmosphere, lined with beach houses, a campsite, and local seaside businesses where swimmers can recover after crossing the finish line. On quiet afternoons, stand-up paddleboarders glide across the transparent shorebreak, rounding off a swim journey shaped by the rhythms of the open South Atlantic.