2022 “Race for the Conch” Set For June 25

#TurksandCaicos, March 21, 2022 – TCI’s premier international swim event, “The Race for the Conch Eco-SeaSwim,” is set to take place on June 25, 2022. The annual competition will feature 2.4 mile, 1 mile, and 1/2 mile races, as well as a 100 meter Children’s Swim for youngsters 10 and under.

Rickie’s Flamingo Cafe on Grace Bay will once again be the venue for the start and the finish. Co-Founders/Directors Ben Stubenberg and Chloe Zimmermann said they expect this year’s event to be the biggest ever with around 130 swimmers based on early on-line registrations.

Ben noted, “We’ll see 80-90 swimmers entering from the US and Canada, and about 40 swimmers from TCI. The race gives our local youngsters a great opportunity to compete against some excellent competition in a globally recognized event.”

Chloe added, ““With competitive and learn-to-swim programs increasing here, we anticipate a greater local turnout as well. The “Race for the Conch” is also now an established sports tourism niche that annually brings in hundreds of thousands of dollars in tourism revenue.”

Event organizers had to cancel the event in 2020, but managed to hold a shortened version in 2021 with strict COVID mitigation measures in place. While COVID restrictions are now being lifted, Race Directors are prepared to implement them for swimmers and volunteers if necessary to ensure maximum safety. The Race Directors were excited that the event was nominated by the World Open Water Swimming Association (WOWSA) for the coveted award of Event of the Year 2021.

In making the nomination, WOWSA noted the friendly atmosphere, the ease of navigating the course, the clear, calm turquoise water venue, and the unique conch trophies (created by local artists Stanford Handfield and Lucie Stubbs).

“While we did not win the award, just receiving the nomination is a huge honor in view of so many outstanding open water swims around the world and leaves us a bit humbled,” they said. “

All of TCI can take pride in this and credit goes to the many incredible volunteers, generous sponsors, the Sports Commission, Tourism Board, and DECR who all helped make this happen over the years since the first swim in 2010.”

Race organizers take seriously the the “Eco” part of the name by minimizing the ecological impact by, for example, requiring that swimmers only use reef friendly sunscreen. In fact, the brand Stream2Sea will be available to all participants to use on the beach. Special discount rates apply for TCI residents entering the race. Watch for news and posters on sign-ups as race date approaches.

The “Race for the Conch” is a TCI non-profit which donates proceeds to the Provo Children’s Home and other local charities. Details on the race can be found on the race website www.ecoseaswim.com.