Bay Night Swimming Sestri Levante

The approach to Sestri Levante is a sensory shift, as the coastal road winds through the tight tunnels of the Ligurian cliffs before the landscape opens onto the sweeping curve of the Gulf of Tigullio. As you reach the town, the distinctive silhouette of the historic center comes into focus; it sits upon a peninsula that was, until the Middle Ages, an isolated landform. It was only the patient, centuries-long accumulation of alluvial deposits from the Gromolo stream and the relentless work of the tides that forged the sandy isthmus now connecting it to the mainland, effectively creating the two distinct bays that define the town.

The water and the history

Swimming in these waters means tracing the boundaries of a landscape shaped by both geological forces and human ambition. On the race day, you are not merely circling a buoy; you are navigating a stretch of sea that guards the memory of the SS Principessa Jolanda. This luxury liner, the largest passenger ship built in Italy at the time, met a tragic fate in 1907 during her launch at the nearby Cantiere Navale di Riva Trigoso, capsizing and sinking within an hour of first touching the water. Further along the coast, the Assêu rock rises from the sea near the Borgo Renà area of Riva Trigoso, marked by a cross that serves as a silent guardian for those venturing out. The area’s maritime heritage is equally defined by its defensive past; the Punta Manara promontory still bears the scars of history, with a well-preserved watchtower standing 140 meters above the surface, once critical for spotting Saracen pirate raids that struck the coast in 1542 and 1607.

Race day logistics

Organized by Aquamanara 1968, the Bay Night Swimming brings a unique rhythm to the Baia del Silenzio. The event features a range of distances—300m, 1000m, 2500m, and 4000m—to accommodate different levels of endurance. The 300m distance specifically utilizes the technical 'Australian' format, a fast-paced challenge that keeps the action intense and close to the shoreline. The atmosphere is steeped in the local culture, with the nearby Baia delle Favole honoring the memory of Hans Christian Andersen, who visited this stretch of coast in 1833. The event remains a centerpiece for the local community, emphasizing the 'Protocollo Nuoto e Ambiente' to preserve the delicate biodiversity of the Ligurian seabed.