Cold Water Swimming in the Algarve: Staying Warm, Safe and Enjoying t…

By David Hunt, Sported Coaching

There are few better ways to start the day than an early morning open-water swim. extract-html.com

Recently, while spending time in Portugal, I headed down to the beach before breakfast for a swim in the Atlantic Ocean. Standing on the shoreline, I knew it was going to be a cold one. The sand beneath my feet felt chilly and the sea temperature was around 16°C.

The first few moments were exactly what you would expect – a sharp intake of breath, a racing heartbeat and a brief debate with myself about whether this was actually a good idea. Let's get the big muscle groups working and try and get warm as quickly as possible.

A few minutes later, however, I was swimming comfortably through crystal-clear water with the dramatic Algarve coastline behind me, under a deep blue sky. It was invigorating, refreshing and a reminder of why so many athletes are drawn to open-water swimming.

The Reality of Cold-Water Swimming

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Many triathletes from the UAE are used to swimming in warm water for most of the year. The Atlantic Ocean can come as quite a shock.

Cold water places additional demands on the body. Muscles take longer to warm up, breathing can feel restricted during the first few minutes and staying comfortable becomes much more dependent on having the right equipment.

The good news is that with sensible preparation, cold-water swimming can be both safe and enjoyable.

Choosing the Right Wetsuit

Your wetsuit is your first layer of protection against the cold. A quality triathlon wetsuit will comfortably handle water temperatures down to approximately 12°C for most swimmers.

For colder conditions, thermal wetsuits provide additional insulation through specialised inner linings that help retain body heat. The additional warmth can be particularly valuable during longer training sessions or endurance events.

The trade-off is that thermal suits can feel slightly heavier than traditional wetsuits, particularly around the shoulders, but many swimmers consider this a worthwhile compromise. Personally fatigue sets in earlier in a thermal suit through a combination of the cold and the heavier suit.

Don't Forget Your Extremities

One lesson from my recent swim was how quickly your extremities lose heat. Despite swimming continuously for approximately 45 minutes and covering around 2km, my feet remained cold throughout the session.

If you regularly swim in colder water, consider adding:

Thermal Swim Cap

A neoprene swim cap or skull cap helps reduce heat loss and can make a noticeable difference to overall comfort.

Thermal Gloves

Cold hands can quickly become numb, affecting both comfort and confidence in the water. Thermal gloves help maintain warmth and dexterity during longer swims.

Thermal Swim Boots

For many swimmers, feet are the most difficult area to keep warm. Thermal swim boots can significantly improve comfort and extend the amount of time you can comfortably spend in the water.

Safety First

No matter how experienced you are, safety must always come first in open water.

A year ago, I experienced a very close encounter with a high-speed motorboat that simply failed to see me, and my colleagues, in the water. Since then, visibility has become one of my highest priorities whenever I swim outdoors.

Wear a Brightly Coloured Swim Cap

Bright colours such as orange, yellow, red or fluorescent pink stand out against the sea and make you much easier to spot.

Dark colours may look stylish but are surprisingly difficult for boat users to see.

Always Use a Tow Float

A brightly coloured tow float is one of the simplest and most effective pieces of open-water safety equipment available.

Not only does it improve visibility, but it can also carry essentials such as:

• Mobile phone (in a waterproof pouch)
• Nutrition
• Hydration
• Car keys and valuables

It also provides something to hold onto should you need a brief rest during a long swim.

Respect the Conditions

The Algarve coastline is stunning, but conditions can change quickly. Even on calm days, currents, swell and wind can create challenges that are not immediately obvious from the shore.

Before every swim:

• Check local conditions and tides
• Swim with others whenever possible
• Tell somebody where you are going
• Stay within your ability level
• Build exposure gradually

Cold-water adaptation takes time.

Why It's Worth It

There is something uniquely satisfying about completing a cold-water swim.

The combination of physical challenge, mental focus and connection with nature creates an experience that is difficult to replicate in a swimming pool.

Whether you are training for your next triathlon, preparing for an open-water event or simply looking for a new adventure, cold-water swimming offers an entirely different dimension to the sport.

Just remember: stay visible, stay warm and respect the conditions.

The Atlantic might be cold, but that's part of the attraction.

By David Hunt certified tribute coach

Doha, Qatar: Morocco head to the 2026 FIFA World Cup as Africa’s strongest team and one of the leading forces in Arab football, determined to build on the history they made four years ago in Qatar.

The Atlas Lions have enjoyed remarkable success in recent years. Alongside their historic World Cup achievements, Morocco won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2025 to claim their second continental title after their 1976 triumph. They have also lifted the African Nations Championship twice (2018, 2020) and the FIFA Arab Cup twice (2012, 2025).

Their defining moment, however, came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where they became the first African and Arab nation to reach a World Cup semi-final. Morocco defeated Belgium, Spain and Portugal on their way to a fourth-place finish, eventually losing 2-1 to Croatia in the third-place play-off.

This time, expectations are even higher.

Morocco’s Group C campaign begins with one of the tournament’s standout fixtures against five-time world champions Brazil on June 13 - the match kicking off in the early hours of June 14 Qatar time - at New York New Jersey Stadium. The high-profile clash is expected to provide an immediate test of Morocco’s ambitions before matches against Scotland and Haiti.

Captain Achraf Hakimi believes Morocco can go even further than they did in Qatar.

“A World Cup is coming this summer, and we’re going to give everything. The group is confident, and we’re preparing to have a great tournament, like we did in Qatar in 2022. Why not do even better than we did in Qatar and go as far as possible?” Hakimi said.

The Paris Saint-Germain star added: “Our objective is clear: to make football history.”

Hakimi will once again lead a talented squad that includes goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, midfielder Sofyan Amrabat and forward Brahim Diaz, combining experience with a new generation of emerging stars.

Among them is 18-year-old Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi, who recently chose to represent Morocco over France and is set to make his World Cup debut.

Calling his selection a “dream come true”, Bouaddi said: “I am aware of the privilege I have to defend these colours, and I will give everything to represent my country in the best possible way.”

Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi believes the country’s growing talent pool is one of its greatest strengths heading into the tournament.

“We really kept tabs on a great many players. That proves one thing: we have a huge pool of talent,” Ouahbi said.

Speaking about Bouaddi, he added: “We’re very proud and delighted to have him with us. The most important thing is that he is very proud to represent Morocco.”

No longer viewed as underdogs, Morocco arrive in North America carrying genuine expectations. After breaking barriers in Qatar and adding more trophies to their collection since then, the Atlas Lions believe they can once again challenge football’s biggest nations.

Their opening match against Brazil will provide the first opportunity to show that their historic run in 2022 was only the beginning.

يختتم العنابي اليوم تدريباته بمدينة سانتا باربارا الأمريكية، وذلك قبل المغادرة غداً إلى مدينة سان فرانسيسكو استعداداً لخوض المواجهة المرتقبة أمام منتخب سويسرا، في افتتاح مشواره بكأس العالم 2026.
وشهدت الحصة التدريبية الأخيرة أجواء من التركيز والحماس الكبير بين اللاعبين، حيث حرص الجهاز الفني بقيادة جولين لوبتيغي على وضع اللمسات النهائية على الخطة الفنية والتكتيكية التي سيخوض بها المنتخب المباراة الأولى، مع التركيز على الجوانب الدفاعية وتنظيم التحولات السريعة واستغلال الفرص الهجومية أمام المنتخب السويسري.
كما ركز الجهاز الفني خلال التدريبات على رفع المعدلات البدنية للاعبين والحفاظ على الجاهزية الكاملة، خاصة بعد سلسلة المباريات الودية التي خاضها العنابي خلال معسكره التحضيري في الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية، والتي هدفت للوصول إلى أفضل انسجام ممكن بين عناصر الفريق قبل ضربة البداية المونديالية.
وأدى اللاعبون تدريبات متنوعة شملت الجوانب التكتيكية والتسديد على المرمى وتنفيذ الكرات الثابتة، وسط حالة من التفاؤل والثقة داخل صفوف المنتخب، في ظل الرغبة الكبيرة في تقديم ظهور مشرف خلال المشاركة الثانية في تاريخ الكرة القطرية ببطولة كأس العالم.
ومن المنتظر أن تغادر بعثة العنابي غداً إلى مدينة سان فرانسيسكو، التي ستحتضن المواجهة المنتظرة أمام المنتخب السويسري يوم 13 الجاري، حيث يسعى الأدعم لتحقيق بداية إيجابية تمنحه دفعة معنوية قوية في مشواره بالمونديال.
ويعول الجهاز الفني كثيراً على خبرات عدد من اللاعبين الدوليين والعناصر الشابة التي ظهرت بصورة مميزة خلال الفترة الماضية، من أجل الظهور بصورة قوية تعكس التطور الكبير الذي وصلت إليه الكرة القطرية خلال السنوات الأخيرة.
وتحظى بعثة العنابي بمتابعة جماهيرية وإعلامية واسعة، خاصة مع توافد الجماهير القطرية إلى الولايات المتحدة الأمريكية لمساندة المنتخب الوطني في هذا الحدث العالمي الكبير، أملاً في تحقيق نتائج إيجابية وكتابة صفحة جديدة في تاريخ مشاركات الأدعم المونديالية.