“A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor.” Or a swimmer in our case as I tell myself this every time I find myself battling out the sea. This is the story of my experience of the Oceanman Egypt alongside my trainees.
“The sea doesn’t get easier, you just get stronger.”
The Oceanman, unlike a triathlon or an Ironman, is purely a swimming event. It’s a great challenge for swimmers who want to test themselves against the ocean waves. In an Ironman, you’re rarely taken out into the open sea, and more often than not, your focus is on the bike and the run rather than the swim.
But the Oceanman forces you to focus on swimming as a race — with all its strategies, currents, and unpredictability. It demands not only endurance and stamina but also skill: the ability to tackle waves, navigate currents, and swim straight when all you can see is a wall of water around you.
Oceanman has multiple categories — 10 km, 5 km, 2 km, and the Oceankids (under 14) 500 meters.
We started promoting Oceanman events as a way to encourage open-water swimming and to pass on my love for the seas. Since our very first contingent to Oceanman Bali in 2022 — the first of its kind by an Indian club — it has become a tradition. Each year, we choose an exotic destination where athletes can experience a great race and enjoy a short vacation. This year, Egypt fit our racing calendar perfectly, and the promise of calm waters in the Red Sea made it even more appealing.
The race was in the Red Sea off the town of Hurghada, a 5-hour drive from Cairo. The Red Sea has always fascinated me — one of the world’s top diving destinations with spectacular reefs. Swimming here was something I had long dreamt of. The race venue in El Gouna, an idyllic tourist town with waterfront hotels and villas, felt perfect for the occasion.
The Venue. Note the beautiful shade of water. This is where we started the swim from.
We had a team of 10 athletes across categories, including 2 under-18 kids. Fourteen-year-old Arjun was the youngest, attempting his very first race in the 500 meters. I’ve had the privilege of mentoring him for 2 years, ever since he and his parents joined our swim holidays program. Watching him transform from an anxious teen afraid of open water to standing on the podium as a winner was truly emotional. His journey has been nothing short of inspiring.
The Team.
Then there was 16-year-old Krishiv Gupta, who I’ve trained for the last 1.5 years. He has already finished a few Olympic-distance triathlons, including an Ironman 5150 in the Philippines. After his 2000-meter swim, he was still hungry for more, so we got him a last-minute slot in the 5 km. Not only did he finish, but he placed in the top 10 and secured a World Championship slot for Oceanman Dubai. That’s what passion looks like — when finishing isn’t enough, you want to test yourself again.
With the new Generation. Arjun (left) and Krishiv (right)
Flying into Cairo, the contrast struck me: endless desert stretching for miles, no trees or towns in sight — such a stark difference from the lush Western Ghats I call home. Seeing the Nile snake through this barren land was surreal, a reminder of how life clings to water.
Of course, Egypt lived up to its reputation for travel scams — from cabbies insisting there was no bus for terminal transfers to unnecessary detours. But as a coach responsible for my team, I kept my guard up and got everyone safely to El Gouna. Renting a self-drive car turned out to be one of the best decisions; on race days, when the town was overflowing with athletes, it made moving around smooth.
The venue was at the El Gouna Sailing Club. On our first morning, I took the team there for a trial swim. The course began in a calm channel leading into the open sea, but at its mouth, we hit shallow reefs and the first signs of chop. That taste of rough water told us what we were in for.
Our second swim in the sea at the mouth of the channel. We went out into the chop here. Also practised eating gels in the water.
After 15 years in this sport, I know one truth: in open water swimming, the weather decides the race. And our race day? Predicted to be the windiest of the week. Just our luck. But complaining doesn’t change the sea — preparation does. I studied the course, walked the shoreline to observe currents and tides, and strategised nutrition down to the gels taped to our buoys.
On race eve, we sat down for a proper debrief. Plan A, Plan B, pacing targets, nutrition timing. As a coach, that’s when you feel both the weight and the privilege of guiding athletes into the unknown.
Race Briefing. The night before the race. Last minute strategy and tips.
Race morning arrived. For our team:
- 10 km — Nitin Swami and Saghar J, both first-timers.
- 5 km — Suman, Shiv, Abhinandan, Ashwin, young Krishiv, and myself.
The start was chaotic — as it always is in mass swims. Years of experience helped me hold my line, staying in the second pack. The first kilometer felt manageable, but once we turned parallel to the mainland, the sea came alive. Huge swells battered us, sighting was nearly impossible. At times, all I could see was a wall of water.
Mass Swim starts are always chaotic and needs practise to hold your own. Ironmans are even worse as there are more athletes.
From 2.5 to 4.5 km, it was pure survival — swimming directly against the chop. I shortened my stroke, upped the cadence, and dug deep. At one point, I got blown slightly off course along with another swimmer. By the time I corrected, the pack had surged ahead. That’s when experience mattered most — knowing how to trust your instincts when the buoys disappear behind waves.
Then came the turn back into calmer waters. But I misjudged and got entangled on a shallow reef. Normally, I’d admire the reef’s beauty, but in the heat of the race, it felt like a nightmare. It cost me precious minutes, yet once free, I found a second wind. The final 500 meters through the channel, I sprinted — overtaking at least 10 swimmers. That surge reminded me why I love this sport.
I crossed in 2:19, far from my 90-minute target, but with a smile. Because Oceanman isn’t just about time — it’s about resilience. Every race teaches you something new, and every struggle with the sea makes you stronger.
Sprinting out to the finish
And as always, my thoughts weren’t just on my race, but on my athletes. Seeing each one finish — except Abhinandan, who was unlucky with his tow float — was emotional. They had all gone beyond their limits. The gratitude they expressed for our monsoon lake sessions back home, battling chop and rain, felt like the story coming full circle.
For the athletes, Oceanman Egypt was more than just a race, it was an experience they’ll carry for life. Many shared how grateful they were that I chose Egypt as the destination, giving them the chance to swim in truly exotic waters. Several of them admitted that without me leading the way, they would never have dared to take on a challenge like this. The excitement only grew when three of our athletes Viz. Saghar, Nitin, and young Krishiv, secured qualification for the World Championships in Dubai. To see them earn their place among the best swimmers in the world is a moment of immense pride for all of us.
Above all, they credited the countless lake sessions back home with PowerPeaks for giving them the confidence to battle the Red Sea chop. As Saghar put it, “I never imagined I’d swim 10 km in the Red Sea, let alone qualify for the Worlds. This wouldn’t have been possible without the way we trained.” And Nitin summed it up beautifully: “Every stroke in those rainy lake mornings prepared us for this day. Coach knew exactly what we needed.”
For me, this race was both as an athlete and as a coach — deeply fulfilling. Because in the end, the sea reminds us: it never gets easier. You just get better.
The Team Triumphant after a great race!
About Coach Chaitanya –
Coach Chaitanya Velhal is a renowned endurance athlete, sports scientist, coach, and two-time TEDx speaker. He excels in ultra-cycling, triathlons, and scientific training. As a multiple-time Ironman finisher and record-holding ultra-cyclist, Chaitanya has claimed prestigious titles like the Deccan Cliffhanger and Desert 500.
Through his PowerPeaks- Athlete Lab, Chaitanya has coached over 900 athletes globally, delivering personalized, data-driven training programs. His holistic approach, integrating sports nutrition, strength training, and biomechanics, ensures athletes reach personal bests injury-free.
Chaitanya has also led some of India’s largest contingents to Oceanman and Ironman events worldwide, with a near-100% success finish rate every time. And also holds the record for coaching some of the oldest, fastest & youngest athletes in the country. Specialising in ultra-distance swimming, running, and cycling, he is committed to elevating athletes in all aspects of endurance sports.
Coach Chai at the Oceanman Start.