Bermuda national open water champion Craig Munden has won the Nevis to St Kitts Cross Channel Swim.

Munden, one of six swimmers from Bermuda at the event, completed the 4.1km swim in 56 min 14sec, with American Michel Heijnen second in 1hr 0min 14sec.

The Bermuda resident was first in a field of 382, was the leading male from 181 entries and took the men’s 20 to 29 age group, in which there were 72 participants.

“It’s probably one of the favourite races I’ve ever done,” Munden told The Royal Gazette.

“It was in crystal-clear water and I saw five or six turtles along the way. Having 382 people from 41 different countries was such an unbelievable experience. It was just great to have people from all around the world, all descending on the same place for a pretty iconic swim between two islands.

“It was the first time that I’ve done a channel swim and there was quite a strong current between the islands, which made it quite challenging on the navigation front.

“I was in pretty good shape physically, but the navigation made it pretty tough. There were some waves coming across that meant you couldn’t actually see the next buoy to get to.

“I was very pleased to get the win and super excited. The atmosphere was incredible, there were so many people waiting at the end cheering and clapping and lots of people taking photos and videos at the end.

“ It was just a super supportive atmosphere and to win that race I was really pleased with it.”

Triathlete Lesley-Jane Smith had a great time swimming in unfamiliar waters.

“The swim from Nevis to St Kitts was a challenging but unforgettable experience,” the Bermudian said.

“Taking place in the open ocean, it marked a departure from the more familiar conditions of Bermuda.

“Despite the difficulty posed by large swells, which made sighting particularly challenging, the crystal clear water offered a unique reward — we could see the seabed throughout, along with turtles, stingrays and starfish.

“It is a real privilege to travel and take part in these races and to experience the natural beauty of other islands in such a personal way.”

Another Bermudian, Handsome Williams, also had a time to remember at the Caribbean's premier open water swimming race.

“The Nevis to St Kitts swim was a memorable experience,” he said.

“It was a well-organised event and I really enjoyed the warmth of everyone involved. I enjoyed meeting new people and learning more about the island’s culture, customs and traditions.

“Even though I had to leave sooner than I wished, I was happy that friends promised to bring me back a taste of the island, coconut dumplings, a local favourite I’m eager to try.

“Since I had such a great experience, this may become an annual trip for me.”