OW Extreme Challenge 2026: Six swimmers complete the first-ever open-water challenge from an offshore wind farm to the Portuguese coast

· Ocean Winds hosted the “OW Extreme Challenge 2026”, an unprecedented 20-kilometre open-water swim from the WindFloat Atlantic offshore wind farm to the mainland in Viana do Castelo.

· The challenge brought together the President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation and five more elite open-water swimmers, who successfully completed the crossing.

Ocean Winds (OW) —a 50-50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE and the developer, owner, and operator of the 25 MW WindFloat Atlantic project, the world’s first semi-submersible floating wind farm located approximately 20 kilometres off Viana do Castelo—has made history on Saturday, July 18 ^th, with the completion of the “OW Extreme Challenge 2026”, marking the first-ever open-water swim from an offshore wind farm to the Portuguese coast.

Organized in collaboration with the Viana do Castelo City Council, the Portuguese Swimming Federation, the Viana do Castelo Sailing Club, the Coordenada Decimal Lifeguard Association, the Viana do Castelo Volunteer Firefighters Humanitarian Association, and the Hotel AP Dona Aninhas, the event featured an unprecedented 20-kilometre open-water swim from the WindFloat Atlantic offshore wind farm to the mainland in Viana do Castelo.

The crossing was successfully completed by six professional open-water swimmers, led by Olympic open-water swimmer and President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation, Miguel Arrobas. Joining him were Olympic open-water swimmer and Viana do Castelo native Vânia Neves, along with elite athletes Marco Vantaggiato, Jorge Viegas Faria, Bernardo Ferreira, and Mauro Inácio.

The team departed from WindFloat Atlantic at 10:30 a.m. and reached Praça da Liberdade at 3:10 p.m., delivering a powerful demonstration of endurance, resilience, and human performance in an unprecedented setting.

Over the close to five hours that took the athletes from the wind farm to shore, the challenge became more than a sporting event, with numerous residents following the swimmers from the coastline. As the athletes pushed through waves, the initiative highlighted how offshore wind infrastructure and local communities can coexist and strengthen one another through sport.

This challenge also marked the sixth anniversary of WindFloat Atlantic’s operation. Since its commissioning, the project has become an international benchmark for floating offshore wind while establishing itself as a source of pride for Viana do Castelo and Portugal. Today, WindFloat Atlantic is not only recognised for advancing the energy transition but also for the positive impact it continues to generate locally through partnerships with institutions, organisations and the wider community.

This connection between people, the ocean, and the wind—the three elements at the core of Ocean Winds’ business—is also reflected in the experience of kitesurfer Pedro Afonso, who, through a 2024 partnership, had the opportunity to explore the WindFloat Atlantic offshore wind farm by kite.

Through initiatives like this, Ocean Winds reinforces its commitment to developing, owning, and operating offshore wind farms in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem, while advancing its ambition to lead the expansion of floating wind energy and unlock its full global potential.

José Pinheiro, OW Country Manager for Iberia, said: “At Ocean Winds, we worked to bring value to the Viana community, not only through the operation of the WindFloat Atlantic project, but also through initiatives like this one, which promoted values such as pioneering spirit, determination, resilience, and the will to overcome challenges—values shared by both high-performance sports and our business. These values were clearly reflected in the approximately 20-kilometre open-water swim that the athletes undertook, just as they guided our work throughout the various phases of development, construction, and operation of the WindFloat Atlantic offshore wind farm.”

Luís Nobre, Mayor of Viana do Castelo, stated: “Viana do Castelo once again established itself as a premier destination for sports, hosting the ‘OW Extreme Challenge 2026’. The location of the WindFloat Atlantic offshore wind farm, combined with the unique conditions of our sea and waterfront, provided the ideal setting for this unprecedented challenge featuring top-level competitive athletes. We welcomed all the athletes, the challenge’s organizer Ocean Winds, and all our partners, wishing them a journey marked by overcoming challenges, camaraderie, and fair play. The event also served as an opportunity to showcase the beauty and excellence of Viana do Castelo.”

Miguel Arrobas, President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation, emphasized: “It was with great satisfaction that the Portuguese Swimming Federation joined this initiative, which exemplified the values of open-water swimming: courage, resilience, a spirit of adventure, and a connection to the sea. We wanted an increasing number of Portuguese people to discover this aspect of swimming, which challenges individual limits and offers a unique experience of connecting with nature. This open-water swim also held special significance because it was linked to the appreciation of Portugal’s sea and the development of offshore wind energy projects, which are essential for a more sustainable future. In addition to their contribution to the energy transition, these investments demonstrated the ability to create new areas for the protection and development of marine biodiversity, promoting the growth and diversification of marine life. It was an example of how sports, innovation, and the blue economy can work together to build a more sustainable future for our country”.