The annual open water swimming long distance events, organised by Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club, have again attracted a record number of participants.
This year, nine swimmers will be racing across the channel and back in the 11-kilometre Malta-Gozo-Malta event, while 62 swimmers will take on the 5.5-kilometre swim from Gozo to Malta.
On Saturday, the 11-kilometre race will start at 6.30 a.m. from the sandy beach at Marfa towards a turn-around buoy at il-Blata tal-Ħalfa in Gozo and back to starting point.
The Gozo-Malta race gets underway at 8.15 a.m. from il-Blata tal-Ħalfa and finishes at Marfa.
All swimmers will be accompanied by an escort boat and the channel will be closed for maritime traffic during the races, sponsored by Power Bar and held under the auspices of the Aquatic Sports Association of Malta.
This year Birkirkara St Joseph Sports Club has teamed up with Swim Aid as the event’s charitable institution.
Donations may be deposited at the HSBC (Malta) account number 0062-07609001.