UltraOceanman Tabarca 2027

Turquoise water, the walled silhouette of Tabarca island behind you and the Alicante coast on the horizon: the UltraOceanman Tabarca is a 21 km ultra-distance open-water crossing for experienced swimmers. It is part of the international Oceanman circuit and one of the great open-water challenges of the Spanish Mediterranean. General information: - Date: Friday 2027-05-28 (the Oceanman weekend continues on 29 May). - Distance: 21 km open-water swim. - Route: in 2025 it went from Tabarca island to Alicante; some sources mention Santa Pola–Tabarca, so the 2027 route should be confirmed. - Water temperature: usually between 19 and 21 °C in late May. - Wetsuit: allowed depending on conditions set by the organiser. - Organiser: Oceanman. - Places: very limited; in 2025, 29 swimmers from 24 countries started. Why it is special: - It is a true ultra-distance: 21 km in open sea, only for very well-prepared swimmers. - Each swimmer is escorted by a kayaker who provides feeds and helps with navigation. - It starts from Tabarca, the only inhabited island in the Valencia region and a marine reserve. - It brings together swimmers from around the world within the Oceanman circuit. Course: It is a point-to-point crossing of about 21 km in open sea, in a single lap. In 2025 swimmers started from Tabarca island and finished in Alicante, each with a support kayak. The courses, start time and safety rules are published on the Oceanman website. Timetable: The 2027 start time has not been published yet. In this kind of event the start is usually early, to swim in calmer sea conditions. There is no start corral by finishing time: all swimmers start together. Registration and prices: Registration is online through the official Oceanman website, where prices and requirements will be published. Given the difficulty of the event, the organiser may require previous long-distance open-water experience. In this listing we use the day before the event as the deadline. Bib pickup: Bibs, caps and chips are collected at the event area in the days before, according to the times published by Oceanman. The weekend usually includes a small expo with the circuit's brands. Services: - Support kayak for each swimmer, with feeds. - Safety boats along the course. - Timing. - Official race cap. Getting there: Alicante has an international airport and a high-speed rail station. Tabarca is reached by boat from Alicante or Santa Pola. Book accommodation early and confirm with the organiser how swimmers are taken to the start. Tips: Train long sea swims and practise feeding from the kayak. Agree pace, feeds and signals with your kayaker before the start. Use sun protection and prepare your skin against chafing. Do several swims of four or five hours in the months before, ideally in the sea, and test your nutrition plan in real conditions so there are no surprises on race day. Bib change: Oceanman publishes its name change and refund conditions on its registration platform. Check them before agreeing anything. Alternatives to get a bib: Places are very limited, so register early and join the waiting list on Bibready with a bib alert. No official waiting lists have been published. If the organiser allows a change of holder, a bib exchange on Bibready helps you find a replacement. FAQ: - When is it? On 2027-05-28. - What is the distance? 21 km in open sea. - Can I wear a wetsuit? Depending on the conditions set by the organiser. - Is there support during the crossing? Yes, each swimmer has a kayaker. - What is the water temperature? Usually between 19 and 21 °C.