A Travessia 14 Bis - Canal de Bertioga

The 14 Bis Aquatic Marathon is the largest and most traditional event of its kind in Brazil. Approximately 24 kilometers long, it is typically held in November as a continuation of the Air Force's Wing Week celebrations and is scheduled for a Saturday when tide conditions are favorable. Held in the waters of the Bertioga Channel, which separates Santo Amaro Island (Guarujá) from the mainland, its first edition took place in 1970. In its first 45 editions, it started from the pier at the Santos Air Force Base Nucleus, located in the city of Guarujá, and finished in Bertioga. Beginning in 2013, with the change of the ferry dock in Bertioga, the route was reversed: today, the start is at Fort São João, in Bertioga, and the finish is at the Santos Air Force Base ramp. The time required for this event varies depending on the athlete's technical level and the environmental conditions on the day of the event (current, water temperature, winds, boat waves, etc.), but can range from 5 to 10 hours, with 10 hours being the maximum limit established by the event regulations. The water temperature during the time of year (late spring) fluctuates between 22°C and 25°C throughout the entire course. Historically organized by the Air Force Command at Santos Air Base, with support from the Santos Pilotage, the Bertioga and Guarujá City Halls, the Brazilian Navy, the Marathon Swimming Club (NAMAN), and a strong volunteer program comprised of academies and swimmers, the 14 Bis Aquatic Marathon is a competition for unity and the appreciation of sporting ideals, even more so than for performance and surpassing individual records. Typically, there are trophies for the top three in the men's and women's overall races, as well as for the top three in each category, both men's and women's. All swimmers, including those who do not complete the race within the allotted time, receive a participation medal. The start time varies from year to year, but is usually around 9 a.m. The Bertioga Canal is open to the ocean at both ends. This means that, depending on the tides, the Canal floods for about six hours and then recedes for the next six hours. The 14 Bis Aquatic Marathon uses the tide to its advantage: the start occurs at the time of incoming tide—about three to four hours before high tide—so that the tide can help the swimmer. In the second half of the race, with the tide receding, the athletes are taken toward the end of the canal, where the finish line is located. In practice, however, tidal behavior isn't always optimal: the start time may have been adjusted for slower swimmers, the channel's contours require strict attention to current behavior to optimize efforts, the wind can be disruptive, and the water level may be excessively low—just to name a few of the race's variables—so the athlete must always be mindful of nature to optimize their movement during the race. Like the Facebook page managed by the author:   / curso-de-nata%c3%a7%c3%a3o-comunit%c3%a1ri...