OW Extreme Challenge: 20km Swim From Wind Farm to Shore
On July 18, Ocean Winds celebrated the OW Extreme Challenge 2026, an unprecedented 20 kilometre open water swim from the offshore wind farm WindFloat Atlantic to the coast of Viana do Castelo.
The challenge brought together the President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation and five other elite open water swimmers, all of whom successfully completed the crossing.
Ocean Winds (OW), the international offshore wind energy company formed as a 50 50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE, and developer, owner and operator of the 25 MW WindFloat Atlantic project, made history with the first open water swim ever carried out from an offshore wind farm to the Portuguese coast.
Located approximately 20 kilometres off Viana do Castelo, WindFloat Atlantic is the world’s first semi submersible floating offshore wind farm. The event marked a new milestone not only in sport, but also in the way offshore renewable infrastructure can connect with local communities.
A 20 Kilometre Challenge at Sea
Organised in collaboration with the Municipality of Viana do Castelo, the Portuguese Swimming Federation, the Viana do Castelo Nautical Club, the Coordenada Decimal Lifeguards Association, the Humanitarian Association of Volunteer Firefighters of Viana do Castelo and Hotel AP Dona Aninhas, the event consisted of a 20 kilometre open water swim from WindFloat Atlantic to the city’s shoreline.
Six professional open water swimmers completed the crossing, led by Olympic open water swimmer and President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation, Miguel Arrobas. He was joined by Olympic open water swimmer and Viana do Castelo native Vânia Neves, as well as elite athletes Marco Vantaggiato, Jorge Viegas Faria, Bernardo Ferreira and Mauro Inácio.
The team departed from WindFloat Atlantic at 10:30 a.m. and arrived at Praça da Liberdade at 3:10 p.m., delivering an extraordinary demonstration of endurance, resilience and human capability in a truly unique environment.
Throughout the nearly five hour journey from the offshore wind farm to the coast, the event went beyond sport. Numerous local residents followed the swimmers’ progress from the shoreline, highlighting how offshore wind infrastructure and coastal communities can coexist and strengthen each other through shared initiatives.
Celebrating Six Years of WindFloat Atlantic
The challenge coincided with the sixth anniversary of WindFloat Atlantic’s commissioning. Since entering operation, the project has become an international benchmark for floating offshore wind technology and a source of pride for Viana do Castelo and Portugal.
Today, WindFloat Atlantic is recognised not only for advancing the energy transition, but also for its positive local impact through partnerships with institutions, organisations and the wider community.
This connection between people, the ocean and the wind, the three core elements of Ocean Winds’ activity, is also reflected in the experience of kitesurfer Pedro Afonso. In 2024, through a collaboration with Ocean Winds, he had the opportunity to kitesurf around the WindFloat Atlantic offshore wind farm.
Through initiatives such as the OW Extreme Challenge 2026, Ocean Winds reinforces its commitment to developing, owning and operating offshore wind farms in harmony with the surrounding ecosystem, while pursuing its ambition to lead the global expansion of floating wind energy.
José Pinheiro, Country Manager of Ocean Winds for Iberia, stated:
“At Ocean Winds, we work 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 promote values such as pioneering spirit, determination, resilience and the ability to overcome challenges. These values are shared by both high performance sport and our daily activity. They were clearly reflected in the approximately 20 kilometre open water swim completed by the athletes, just as they have guided our work throughout the different phases of development, construction and operation of WindFloat Atlantic.”
Luís Nobre, Mayor of Viana do Castelo, added:
“Viana do Castelo once again established itself as a leading destination for sports by hosting the OW Extreme Challenge 2026. The location of the WindFloat Atlantic offshore wind farm, combined with the exceptional conditions of our sea and coastline, provided the ideal setting for this unprecedented challenge featuring top level athletes. We welcomed all participants, Ocean Winds as organiser and the collaborating entities, wishing them a crossing marked by determination, teamwork and fair play. This event was also a valuable opportunity to showcase the beauty and excellence of Viana do Castelo.”
Miguel Arrobas, President of the Portuguese Swimming Federation, emphasised:
“The Portuguese Swimming Federation joined this initiative with great satisfaction, as it perfectly represents the values of open water swimming: courage, resilience, a spirit of adventure and a deep connection with the sea. We want more and more Portuguese people to discover this discipline, which challenges individual limits and offers a unique experience in contact with nature. This crossing also had special meaning due to its link with the appreciation of Portugal’s sea and the development of offshore wind projects, which are essential to building a more sustainable future. Beyond their contribution to the energy transition, these investments demonstrate their capacity to create new spaces for the protection and development of marine biodiversity, supporting the growth and diversification of marine life. It is a clear example of how sport, innovation and the blue economy can move forward together toward a more sustainable future for our country.”
About Ocean Winds
Ocean Winds (OW) is an international company dedicated to offshore wind energy, created as a 50 50 joint venture between EDP Renewables and ENGIE. Convinced that offshore wind plays a key role in the global energy transition, the company develops, finances, builds, owns and operates offshore wind farm projects worldwide.
Headquartered in Madrid, Ocean Winds is currently present in eight countries, with a strong focus on Europe, several regions of Asia, Brazil and Australia.
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