About

Our team consists of Cristian Vergara and Julieta Nuñez, who recognized a need to organize the swims of crossing the Straits of Magellan and the Beagle Channel. Both swims, classified as “extreme” have been lacking true swimmer support from organizing, guidance to safety. Because of our backgrounds as swimmers and organizers, we are the best qualified to take charge of these swims and offer a world class organized event for swimmers wanting to be challenged in the “extreme”.

Cristian Vergara

Has been participating in open water swimming events since 2000. He has since completed marathon swims such as the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim (MIMS) (28 miles) and the English Channel (21 miles) among others. He has also done “extreme” swims such as the Straits of Magellan and the Beagle Channel, both in Patagonia. Lake Titicaca in Bolivia and various winter swimming events in Finland, China, USA, Argentina and Russia. He also represented Chile in the Bering Strait International Swimming Relay.

Cristian is a founding member and was the Executive Director for 8 years of the Coney Island Brighton Beach Open Water Swimmers (CIBBOWS). He organized and was race director for various new swim events for the organization, including a USMS (United States Master Swimming) 5K National Championship. He was also in charge of the open water race course and safety for the Police and Fire International Games in 2011 held in New York City. Cristian has organized private swims, obtaining the necessary permits from the relevant authorities, providing safety plan and all necessary logistic support.                                           contact: vergaracristian@hotmail.com

Julieta Nuñez

has been active in swimming open water events since 2003. She has participated in more than 100 events in Chile and abroad, highlighting, for example: Alcatraz in USA, Mancora-Vichayito, Peru, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia, crossing the Bosphorus in Turkey, several swims in Argentina. Has swam across the Strait of Magellan and Beagle channel several times. Also has completed and swims in the Chilean Antarctic 4 different times. In addition, she has swam events of 15 to 20 kms of ocean open water. Her exploits have given her the recognition of being one of the 100 women leaders from Chile by El Mercurio newspaper, also named one of the Sports Heroines by newspaper La Tercera. She has been named outstanding woman of her region and star of several television and documentary reports about her connection to the sea .

Julieta founded the first open water club in Viña del Mar and was its president for two years. She then formed the first open water club in Concon and is the current president. She has organized numerous competitions in Valparaiso, Viña del Mar and Concon. Every year she organizes a national competition in the Bay of Concon with 70 to 100 participants, both from Chile and neighboring countries. Her experience has led her to become coach for young swimmers and be their escort guide. Julieta is also proficient in three languages which include: German, Spanish and English.

Her life is linked to the sea, in fact, she is a certified sports and shellfish diver. Currently is president of the local fishermens’ union (San Pedro de Concon) and lifeguard since 2004, serving as such at the local beaches.                                                               contact: julietanunez@yahoo.com