It was not easy to swim, but I really liked it! Just like when running, somewhere in the middle of the distance, an internal dialogue begins calling for a rest, and better - to go ashore. But I already know how to deal with that! Many thanks to the organizers and volunteers of X-Waters. Perfect organization made it a top-level swim! I will be waiting for your next events!

@helenkhruleva
Well, Saint Petersburg Swim. The option 'not to swim' was not considered at all, as soon as X-Waters announced this start. To swim around Peter and Paul Fortress, in the city center, to see this beauty around me! The weather decided that the previous sunny +30 was a misunderstanding, and turned on its normal mode - rain and +16 :) I was not even surprised. Starting early in the morning on Sunday in such weather - well, what more fun can you think up? :) My swim was, generally, excellent. [...] The water was clean, fairly transparent (more transparent than the Volga, for example). A lot of seaweed, yes, but it does not bother me at all usually, they don’t touch me, I gently swim over them, and everyone is happy. I didn’t really feel the counter current, but looking at my track and result, it was there. I am satisfied with the result as a whole, and although 16 seconds, which took me away from the prize, of course, were a little upset, the second place in the absolute standings at my favorite @iloveswimming_spb brightened up this misunderstanding!

@pingvin_fly
There are such events which seem to have nothing special, but they leave a bright impression... I have two beloved cities on the Earth - Vienna and St Pete. [...] And now - St Pete. St Pete from the water. Rather - from inside the water. Where is it better to admire this city, the Venice of the North?! My 6th start in the season and the first one with X-Waters. 55 minutes for a full circle around the heart of the northern capital - the Peter and Paul Fortress (2.3 km). I did not expect that. A typical St. Petersburg atmosphere - the landscape when the water merges with the sky bypassing the horizon, rain and mulled wine after the the swim! And this great feeling when getting out of the water you see familiar faces :)

My sister and I swam 3 circles altogether around the Peter and Paul Fortress and earned such beautiful medals with water inside! Who wants the same - sign up for the X-Waters series swims. The organization and the atmosphere were just excellent. It's great that we are having more and more events like this.

...On Sunday, I took part in the X-Waters swim around the Peter and Paul Fortress. The distance of 2300 m was simply gigantic for me, considering that I haven't ever swum even in a 50 m pool before, and to reach buoys in the sea was already a success and more usual in flippers and with a balloon. :) But everything went surprisingly calm, I swam evenly and admired my native city. Beautiful views of the Winter Palace, Troitsky bridge, and everything that came into my eyes when I eagerly swallowed the air. Well, my mom has got a swimming son.

@stv_zolotaya
We got up at 5 in the morning seeing showers outside the window... well, it's me swimming today, it's my weather! When we arrived at Peter and Paul Fortress, the rain stopped and I felt so good. The water was more or less calm. The start was a mess, a lot of people, although we started in groups, some blows were really painful :) (a total of ~ 600 people participated in the swim). The temperature of the water was just what I need, very comfortable, even though it was raining, we did not notice that as we were already in the water :) But the seaweed! Oh, these seaweed :) And here's the finish... the first thought was - so soon?! It's cool to finish with a feeling - I can do more! And I want more, and I want better and faster! Thanks to X-Waters organizers for such a cool and beautiful swim. And I am eternally grateful to my husband for his support and that he is always with me - in any weather, at any time with my most diverse undertakings!

I swam Double Fortress today in tandem with the visually impaired swimmer from St. Petersburg Andrey Sosnov. As Andrey's father-in-law said: 'A log and a herring. Sosnov and Seryodkin. These two will swim for sure'.:) It was very beautiful, quite difficult and interesting. The water in the Neva was cool. But I was warmed by a feeling of gratitude to Andrey for what he was doing. It is very interesting to take part in his projects. [...] Fortress is a beautiful and enjoyable swim. I didn't want the swim to end. And while we were swimming, I came up with a comic motto for such swims and the whole adventure swimming in general: 'The finish is not a reason to get out of the water' :)

To get up on Sunday at 5 am to swim 2.3 km around Peter and Paul Fortress in the rain is priceless! A very interesting swim from X-Waters. Fight against the current, seaweed and rivals in the narrow Kronverksky Strait. A creative medal!

@vadimbondar
Surprisingly, the Neva has very clean water. You can clearly see the bottom, up to 2 meters for sure. A great swim, I do recommend.

@superlawyer44
While you were sleeping, we were taking the Fortress at 7 am. And we took it! Despite the classic St. Pete weather, gigantic seaweed and dubious odors from boats in the water, we enjoyed the swim! Well, #swiminstpete! Thank you, X-Waters! You are the best!

@konstantin_vasilyevv
Great! 600 participants, 13 countries, 2300 meters. I completed the swim in 41 minutes, which I consider a good result having a counter current in the Kronverksky Strait. 12th place in the age group and 47th in the absolute standings. Warm water. Friendly seaweed, dark bottom, rain, etc. In short, not friendly, but winnable!:)