Aruba, august 31, 2026.
The Aruba Dolphins Swimming and Waterpolo Club extends a cordial invitation to you to participate in the yearly Aruba Dolphins Open Water Swim Meet to be held on Sunday, September 27, 2026, in the Commandeurs Bay in Savaneta, Aruba.
This year we will be swimming 3 distances and one relay, 1 – 3 – 5 KM, and 1,5 KM relay (500 mtr leg) The age for all competitors will be considered as of December 31, 2026.
For the 1KM event the following categories will participate for prizes:
- and under female - male
- – 10 years
11 – 12 years
13 and older (only medals, no overall award) For the 3KM event the following categories will participate forprizes:
| 13 – 14 years | female -male |
| 15 – 17 “ | |
| 18 – 24 “ | |
| 25 – 34 “ | |
| 35 – 44 “ | |
| 45 – 54 “ | |
| 55 and older |
For the 5KM event the following categories will participate for prizes:
| 13 – 14 years | female - male |
| 15 – 17 “ | |
| 18 – 24 “ | |
| 25 – 34 “ | |
| 35 – 44 “ | |
| 45 – 54 “ | |
| 55 and older |
The first 3 swimmers in each category will be awarded medals.
The first 3 finishers in each distance will be awarded trophies as overall winners, except the 13 and older category in the 1KM.
!!!****New Event Alert***!!!!
Relay Time:
1,5 KM relay leg of 500 meters categories as follows:
10- 13 years Mix (female-male)
14- 16 years
17 and over
The First team finisher in each category will be awarded trophies.
Closing ceremony and awards presentation will take place at 12:15pm (estimated time).
Technical Equipment
Electronic Timing will be used for each event; each athlete will have wrist chips (except relay event). Manual timing be used as back up. The finish line will also include video cameras for back-up place judging.
Rules
The competition will be conducted in accordance with WORLD AQUATICS RULES
Remember no smart watches allowed and swimming Cap is a must at the start of the race.
Entry Limit 1,3,5 KM
The meet will be capped at 150 athletes on a first come, first served basis.
For the relay a maximum 20 teams per categories. First served basis.
Entry procedure 1, 3, 5 KM
To make the registration procedure on race day faster we would like to receive your entries in advance. Entries are accepted online only http://timing.events/Event/Index?id=17
After entry you will receive a confirmation email.
For the relay entry in advance
Entry deadline
Entry will close on September 25, 2026 at 23:30 PM. On the day of the race there will be absolutely NO possibility of registering to participate for the 1, 3, and 5 KM.
For more information contact “Meet director” Louella Maduro at: maduro.louella@hotmail.com
5928217 whats app only
Entry fee 1,3 ,5 km
The entry fee for all participants is AWG 35.00 or $20.00.
Entry fee for the relay is AWG 25.00 per TEAM
Take note: the registration entry for the relay is only possible at the Race Venue a form will be handed out for the relay teams.
The online registration is only for the individuals, 1, 3, 5 KM.
Registration link: http://timing.events/Event/Index?id=117
We remind all participants of the requirement for every swimmer to sign the “Waiver and release of liability” form. Swimmers under the age of 18 must have this form signed by a parent or legal guardian. The waiver must be filled and signed in advance and presented on race day at the registration.
Payment 1, 3, 5 Km individuals
Transfer Only:
Caribbean Mercantile Bank: Account # 22781308 Aruba Dolphins Zwemvereniging
Wayaca 304, Oranjestad
Put in details: “OW 2026 1,3 or 5K swimmer name.
Payment relay:
- payment on site is available via swipe atm.
Submission of signed waiver and numbering will start on race day at 6:30AM.
Race venue
The start and the finish for the 1, 3 and 5KM race will be at the Zeerovers Pier. The course will be marked by buoys indicating the start and turning points and will have a rectangular shape. The course map can be seen below. The course will have a distance of 1KM. Swimmers for the 3KM and 5KM will have to the swim the course 3 or 5 times.
The start time for the 3KM and 5KM will be at 07:30AM with 5 minutes’ intervals, and the start of the 1KM will be at 10:00AM.
Start time for the relay is * tentative 10:45 AM and finishes around 12:00, start venue for the relay starts and finishes at Zeerovers Pier, each swimmer will start from the pier and finishes at the pier, a turning point at 250 meters will be marked at the Race venue.
Exploration course is from 6:45AM to 7:10AM.
Special notice for the 3KM and 5KM participants
For the 3KM and 5KM event, a time limit of 15 minutes shall apply from the finish of the first swimmer in each age and sex category.
Competitors who do not finish the course within the time limit shall be removed from the water except if the Referee allows a competitor outside the time limit to complete the course, but that competitor shall not be eligible for any awards. The competitors that have not finished the race within this time limit shall have a designated finish of OTL (Over Time Limit).
The first swimmer is expected to cross the finish line in 1 hour and 15 minutes. Aruba Swimming Federation officials will record the results.
PROTESTS
All protests against the Referees’ decision must be submitted to the Chief Referee in writing by the team leader/Coach/representative within 30 minutes of / after the event in question. It should be signed by the Representative and accompanied by AWG 50.00. All protests will be considered by the Chief Referee.
The fee is refundable if the protest is upheld.
Open Water Swimming rules for the Aruba Dolphins 1-3-5 KM 2026
- Sign up
Swimmers must read and sign the “Waiver and release of liability” form before signing up. Competitors under the age of 18 must have this form signed by a parent or legal guardian.
- The Start
Swimmers must remain treading in the water behind the designated starting line prior to the start signal. It shall be cause for disqualification for any part, or all, of a swimmer’s body to be within the designated course beyond the starting line during the starting signal. The race shall not be interrupted or discontinued for a false start.
- Drafting
Drafting is permitted without hindrance. If Hindrance is deliberately or intentionally done, swimmer will be shown with a warning yellow flag, and if persisted swimmer will be shown a red flag and will be removed from the venue on the referee’s orders.
- Interference
A swimmer shall not obstruct another swimmer’s progress, make intentional contact with another swimmer, or interfere with another swimmer in any way. Any such interference shall lead to disqualification as per the referee’s judgment. And will be removed from the race venue
- Performance
A swimmer may not use or wear any device to artificially enhance performance during the race. One bathing suit, goggles, swim cap, nose clip and earplugs are permitted. Swimmers shall be allowed to use Vaseline or other such substances at the discretion of the referee. Nails must be completely trimmed. Swimmers shall make no intentional physical contact with the escort safety crafts or crews. Standing on the bottom during the race shall not disqualify a swimmer, but they may not walk or jump.
- Finish
A swimmer must complete the entire designated course and shall touch the finish mark to record their finish and register their time. The swimmer shall provide the swimming officials their assigned number.
- Placing
The swimmer in each division who completes the designated course in strict compliance with the rules the fastest shall be declared the winner of that division. Each subsequent place in each division shall be awarded to the swimmer completing the designated course in strict compliance with the rules with the next fastest time.
- Integrity of results
It is the swimmer's responsibility to see to it that the results reflect a fair and honest competition in strict accordance with the above-mentioned rules. As such the swimmer is responsible for knowing these rules and adhering to them.
- Self-disqualification
Upon completion of the swim, if a swimmer is aware that any portion of his swim was performed in contravention to the rules, the swimmer shall report the violation to the referee for the purpose of disqualification. The swimmer shall see to it that the nonconforming swim is ineligible for awards and records and does not appear in the results unless denoted as having been disqualified.
Final decisions
All other cases not mentioned before shall be decided by the organizing committee.