Santa Barbara’s Semana Nautica Kicks Off June 27

Semana Nautica 6-Mile Ocean Swim Race

The Semana Nautica Summer Sports Festival is all about friendly community competitions.

SANTA BARBARA, CA — Featuring some of Santa Barbara’s favorite sporting events as well as some fresher upstarts, the 2018 Semana Nautica Summer Sports Festival is all set to take over local beaches and athletic venues from June 27 through July 8.

Many of Santa Barbara’s longest running sporting events can be found on the Semana Nautica calendar, including the annual 4th of July 15K at Elings Park, the Santa Barbara Tennis Open at the Municipal Courts, and the Semana Nautica ocean-swimming races held along the waterfront. And don’t forget the Ocean Water Polo exhibition at Stearns Wharf, the Krazy Kardboard Kayak Race at West Beach, or the CBVA beach volleyball tournaments at East Beach. Plus many more.

The festival has something for everyone: elite athletes, youth athletes, masters athletes, weekend warriors, and families. All events are free for spectators and fans. A complete list of festival events, dates and registration information can be found at SemanaNautica.com.

Festival participants will be eligible for several awards, including the Men’s and Women’s Ocean Swimmer of the Year, Athlete of the Year, and the Jeff Farrell Award.

The Semana Nautica Association would like to thank its incredible lineup of local sponsors: Mullen and Henzell L.L.P., American Riviera Bank, Deering Design, Law Office of Dana Longo, A.P.C.Radius Group (Gene Deering), and the Santa Barbara Independent, as well as the local sports organizations putting on events: Santa Barbara Parks & Recreation Department, Santa Barbara Athletic Association, Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons, Santa Barbara Youth Sailing Foundation, Santa Barbara Swim Club, and the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum.

Origin of Semana Nautica

For more than three-quarters of a century, Santa Barbara has celebrated the Semana Nautica Festival surrounding the 4th of July holiday. The festival originated in 1933 when the local populace challenged the crew of five U.S. Navy battleships, moored offshore, to a series of contests along the beach. Dubbed Fleet Week, the resulting enthusiasm inspired the City Council to charter the event on a permanent basis the following year and change the name to Semana Nautica in honor of the town’s Spanish heritage.

Over the years, the sports festival has incorporated hundreds of various events, from the extremely physically challenging to those that welcome participants of all ages and abilities. Spectators may attend the events free of charge and are encouraged to cheer amateur competitors at the many sites in the Santa Barbara area.