Cruce a Nado Internacional is a yearly international swimming competition that takes place at Bahía de Ponce in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is the oldest open water swimming event in the Caribbean.Miguel Portes gana cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahía de Ponce. Víctor Báez. DeportivAPP. 8 September 2016. Accessed 23 January 2017. The event generally occurs on the first Sunday of September, to coincide with the Sunday of Labor Day Weekend every year. The event is sponsored by Club Cruce a Nado, Inc.Special Local Regulation, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, Bahia de Ponce; Ponce, PR. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013. Some 100 athletes compete,Special Local Regulation, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, Bahia de Ponce; Ponce, PR. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013. swimming nautical miles.La Bahía de Ponce será el marco de celebración para el evento ‘Cruce a Nado Internacional’. Peridico El Sol de Puerto Rico. Retrieved 4 November 2021. Archived. The event started in 1980. The 2020 season's event did not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic,Todo listo para correr La Guadalupe. EsNoticia. Issue 156. 5–18 November 2021. p15. Retrieved 5 November 2021. Archived. but its 40th season took place on 5 September 2021 instead. Michelle Estrada Torres. Voces del Sur. 31 August 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.

History

The competition started in 1980Playa Ponce: Central America » Caribbean » Puerto Rico: August 31st 2008. TravelBlog. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2013. under the sponsorship of the Ponce Municipal Government.Neysa Rodriguez Deynes. Brevario Sobre la Historia de Ponce. Second Edition. Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. 2002. Page 13. Printed by Impress Quality Printing, Bayamon, Puerto Rico. It has gained popularity every year with a greater number of athletes participating from an equally greater number of countries. In 2008, 16 countries were represented.Playa Ponce: Central America » Caribbean » Puerto Rico: August 31st 2008. TravelBlog. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2013. The competition abides by the rules of the Federación Internacional de Natación (FINA) (International Swimming Federation) and the approval of the Federación Puertorriqueña de Natación (FPN) (Puerto Rican Swimming Federation). El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013. Countries that have competed in the past include Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, United States, U.S. Virgin Islands and Venezuela.Apuestan venezolanos en el Cruce a Nado. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 29 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2013.Regresa el Cruce a Nado Internacional. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1522. Page 53. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.Atletas de 12 países en cruce a nado de la Bahía de Ponce. Associated Press. Noticias Online. 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2013. The competition originally included local Puerto Rican swimmers only, but after two years, it was opened to foreign nationals as well.

It is a common practice to dedicate the event to athletes who have made outstanding accomplishments in the sport. On 4 September 2011, the 30th annual competition was dedicated to Orlando Fernández, a.k.a. "The Puerto Rican Aquaman", the first Puerto Rican to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar, in recognition of his accomplishments.Special Local Regulation, Cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahia de Ponce Puerto Rico, Bahia de Ponce; Ponce, PR. Federal Register: The Daily Journal of the United States Government. A Proposed Rule by the Coast Guard. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

Venue

The competition consists of crossing the Bay of Ponce from Cardona Island, which is situated about 1.5 nautical miles El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013. from mainland's Puerto Rico southern shores in Ponce, to the southern shore of Puerto Rico at Ponce.West Indies Pilot, Volume 1. United States Hydrographic Office. Page 599. Fourth Edition: 1922. Retrieved 29 April 2011. The entire event starts on the Thursday before the Sunday of the competitions with music, shows and traditional foods. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013. The Ponce Municipal Government contributes $20,000 to the costs of celebrating the event.Deportes: ¿existirían sin subsidios? Reinaldo Millán. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 21 November 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2013.

Procedure Athletes are taken by boat to Isla Cardona which is located just 1.5 nautical miles from the mainland. At the sound of the whistle, athletes then swim the 2,800 meters - 1.5 nautical miles - across the bay towards sector El Malecón in Playa de Ponce.Regresa el Cruce a Nado Internacional. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1522. Page 53. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013. Athletes arrive at Parque Enrique González El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013. in Playa de Ponce, which is located across from the U.S. Customs House and has an area with steps that lead down to the bay waters.Playa Ponce: Central America » Caribbean » Puerto Rico: August 31st 2008. TravelBlog. 7 September 2008. Retrieved 28 August 2013. The first athlete to arrive is the winner. First place, second place, and third place awards are given. The Mayor of Ponce awaits athletes at El Malecon's finish line to bestow medals, prizes and other awards on the winners. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

Beyond the two main competitive divisions based on gender (Men's and Women's), the 2009 event consisted of two categories: "Categoria Abierta", open to those between ages 13 and 25; and "Categoria Masters", open to those over 26 years of age.La Playa de Ponce celebra el Cruce a Nado. Raquel Torres Arzola. La Regata: el Periodico Nautico de Puerto Rico. Editorial La Regata, Inc. Caguas, Puerto Rico. Year 12. Number 8. Page 3. 29 October-2 November 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2013. The 2011 edition also had the "Over 56+" category for those 56 years old and older. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

Winners As an added bonus and incentive to the first Puerto Rican who makes it to the finish line, in 2008 the municipality added the "Copa Héctor Pérez" (Spanish for Héctor Pérez Cup), which is given to the athlete with those qualities and merit. In 2008, it went to Nathaniel Ramos. Héctor Pérez Torres, born in Playa de Ponce, is a sportsman and community leader, and has been organizing the Cruce a Nado Internacional event. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

2005 (25th Competition) As reported by Panama's La Prensa, here is the list of winners.Puerto Rico. Compitieron mas de 40 nadadores: Castillo figuró entre los 10 grandes en el cruce a la Bahía de Ponce. Reinaldo A. Weeks D. La Prensa. Panama, Central America. 16 September 2005. Retrieved 29 August 2013.

Men's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Manuel Chiu PérezMexico1:02.022Rolando SalasVenezuela1:02.153 John KerryUnited States1:02.27

2009 (29th Competition) As reported by the La Regata: el Periodico Nautico de Puerto Rico newsweekly, here is the list of winners.La Playa de Ponce celebra el Cruce a Nado. Raquel Torres Arzola. La Regata: el Periodico Nautico de Puerto Rico. Editorial La Regata, Inc. Caguas, Puerto Rico. Year 12. Number 8. Page 3. 29 October-2 November 2009. Retrieved 29 August 2013.Víctor Muñoz hizo trabajo estelar en Cruce a Nado PR. 13 September 2009. Hoy newspaper (Dominican Republic). 13 September 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

Men's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Christian BayoPuerto Rico37.06.002Miguel A. DavilaColombia37.06.103 Víctor Manuel MuñozDominican Republic39.09.10

Women's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Maria G. MuñozGuatemala42.34.122Zuliemarie HornedoPuerto Rico42.34.453 Betsmara CruzPuerto Rico43.27.10

56+ Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Giampiero RosatiUnknown01:26.10.00

2010 (30th Competition) Here are the 2010 Men's and Women's winners:

Men's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Marcos LavadoVenezuela35.372Álvaro LozanoVenezuela35:483José SánchezEcuador38.21

Women's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Karla DíazVenezuela38:432Florencia MeloVenezuela38:443Cartha RodríguezPuerto Rico41.27

2011 (31st Competition) As reported by "El Sur a la Vista", here are the 2011 winners in each of the three divisions. El Sur a la Vista. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 5 September 2011. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

Men's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Marcos LavadoVenezuela34:082Alvaro LozanoVenezuela34:113Nathaniel RamosPuerto Rico34:21

Women's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Carla DíazVenezuela37:402Florencia MeloVenezuela37:403María Gabriela MuñozGuatemala37:454Betsmara CruzPuerto Rico38:23

56+ Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Eduardo MayolUnknown48:46

2012 (32nd Competition) As reported by "La Perla del Sur", here are the 2012 winners.Regresa el Cruce a Nado Internacional. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1522. Page 53. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.

Men's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Marcos LavadoVenezuela33:19.072Alvaro LozanoVenezuela33:21.203Not AvailableN/AN/A

2013 (33rd Competition) As reported by La Perla del Sur newsweekly, here is the list of winners.Ecuatoriano gana el Cruce a Nado. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 31. Issue 1554. Page 52. 4 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.

Men's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Iván EndericaEcuador35.302Alvaro LozanoVenezuela36:273Isaías Vázquez TaveraColombia36:29

Women's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Cindy C. ToscanoGuatemala41:362Paula MontoyColombia41:533 Eliana Disla PascualRepública Dominicana41:52

Puerto Rican Men's Swimmers awards Pos. Name Country Time 1Víctor D. GaudPuerto Rico36:382Jean Carlos PantojasPuerto Rico37:283Calvin Ayala Velázquez Puerto Rico37:374Ricardo MirandaPuerto Rico37:49

Puerto Rican Women's Swimmers awards Pos. Name Country Time 1Gabriela M. OquendoPuerto Rico43:13

2014 (34th Competition) As reported by La Perla del Sur newsweekly, here is the list of winners.Triunfan Colombia y Dominicana en el Cruce a Nado Internacional. Junior Lugo Marrero. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 32. Issue 1605. Page 44. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2016.

Men's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Isaias VazquezColombia37:36.042Miguel PortesDominican Republic37:36.053Nathaniel RamosPuerto Rico39:20.094Walter CaballeroBolivia40:09.83

Women's Division Pos. Name Country Time 1Eliana Disla PascualDominican Republic43:12.252Zuleimarie HornedoPuerto Rico44:22.433Laura FigueroaPuerto Rico46:00.794Paula MontoyaColombia46:31.16

Puerto Rican Men's Swimmers awards Pos. Name Country Time 1Nathaniel RamosPuerto Rico39:20.092Victor GaudPuerto Rico40:14.603Calvin Ayala Puerto Rico40:19.87

Puerto Rican Women's Swimmers awards Pos. Name Country Time 1Zuleimarie HornedoPuerto Rico44:22.432Laura FigueroaPuerto Rico46:00.793Maria Victoria BurgosPuerto Rico47:32.38

2015 (35th Competition) As reported by DeportivAPPMiguel Portes gana cruce a Nado Internacional de la Bahía de Ponce. Víctor Báez. DeportivAPP. 8 September 2016. Accessed 23 January 2017. and Agenda56Miguel Portes domina el cruce a nado de la bahía de Ponce. DiarioLibre.com 16 September 2015. Accessed 23 January 2017 here is the list of winners.

Men's Division