About ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Hvar

Hvar – one of the most beautiful islands in the world – is the ideal location for an early race and for a race in the Mediterranean. Croatia and Hvar is a dream come true location. We are proud to kick- off the European swimrun season and welcome you the ÖTILLÖ Swimrun Hvar.

The island is magnificient, surrounded by emerald-colored seas and the exceptional Paklinski islands to the south. Hvar is known to be one of the most beautiful islands in the world. Just one hour off the mainland city of Split makes the ferry ride a perfect place to relax into the island vibe.
Rosemary, lavender, wine, more than a 2000-year old history; just simply, a unique place for a unique race.

The weather in this period is perfect for swimrun with water temperatures between 15 – 17 degrees and about 20 degrees in the air. In the sun it will get hot and you will really have to think about your heat management on the long runs. The water is salty so you will have very good buoyancy however it adds a bit of chafing. Like everything in swimrun; there is always a negative with the positive.

If you have energy left for the closing party you will experience the fantastic local food with locally grown produce. The local wines are superb. Did you know that the local Plavac grape is the mother of Syrah/Zinfandel?

World Series

This race is beautiful but tough. The hills, the long swims and the salt-water will challenge all the teams to put in stellar performances. You will not only have to be strong running in the hills, you will need to be strong in the water to excel in this race.

The course is magnificent and a real challenge. We start and finish in the Main Square of Hvar. We will also pass through the same place once in the race, the course looks like a figure of eight or the symbol of infinity.

A total of 40,4 km with 9 swims of which the longest is 2 950 metres. A total of almost 9 000 metres of swimming. The first part of the course will be a lot of swimming, the second part will be more running.

From the start you will run and swim to the Western-most point of the main island. Where the first cut-off will be. From there every team will get a safety buoy from the organisation to be used for the long swim across to the Paklini Islands. We strongly recommend that you tether up (be attached by rope) for this long swim. Make sure that you know how to swim in open-water and potentially with side-wind, waves and currents. When on the Paklini islands you leave your HEAD safety buoy and continue running and swimming back towards Hvar town.

You go back through the Main Square, here will also be the second cut-off. Then a climb to the two fortresses Spanjola and Napoleon. From Napoleon it is a nice run in the mountains through olive groves, an abandoned village and finally down to the sea again, to the nice village Milna where the third Cut off will be. From Milna you run and swim back to the finish line, which is on the Main Square in Hvar.

This course has everything; fantastic water to swim in. Some rough, some protected. Single track trails and 4×4 tracks through olive groves, lavender and rosemary fields, tough hills up and down. Historical buildings and cultural heritage all around. All with incredible views at all times!

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