Memorandum Signed at Sea Breeze for OCEANMAN Azerbaijan – Sea Breeze 2027: Azerbaijan to Host an International Open-Water Swimming Series for the First Time

On October 14, 2026, Emin Agalarov, Founder and Owner of Sea Breeze resort city, and Sabina Mammadova, General Director of Oceanman Azerbaijan, signed a memorandum to host OCEANMAN Azerbaijan Sea Breeze, the first OCEANMAN event in Azerbaijan.

The project will be implemented in partnership with Dream Group International, with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Azerbaijan Swimming Federation. It aims to develop open water swimming, expand international sports cooperation, and position Azerbaijan as a destination for sports tourism.

The competition will take place at Sea Breeze in September 2027, bringing together professional athletes, swimming enthusiasts, and visitors from different countries. As part of the preparations for OCEANMAN Azerbaijan Sea Breeze, Polish ultra-distance swimmer Bartłomiej Kubkowski and Boris Najafov, the first Azerbaijani to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar, will complete a 10-kilometer open water swim off the coast of The Grand aparthotel at Sea Breeze.

Kubkowski is known for his achievements in ultra-distance swimming. In August 2026, he swam across the Baltic Sea from Sweden to Poland, covering approximately 160 kilometers without stopping and spending more than 55 hours in the water. 

Boris Najafov is the first Azerbaijani to swim across the Strait of Gibraltar. In September 2026, he also completed a 25-kilometer swim from Corsica to Sardinia and back across the Strait of Bonifacio.

OCEANMAN is the world's largest and one of the most prestigious international open water swimming competition series. Races take place in more than 35 countries, bringing together professional athletes, experienced swimmers, swimming enthusiasts aged 7 to 75, families, and corporate teams.