Targets a swimming series of contests on the water (8)
I believe the answer is:
regattas
'targets a swimming series of contests on the water' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'targets a swimming' is the wordplay.
'swimming' indicates an anagram.
'targets'+'a'='targetsa'
'targetsa' with letters rearranged gives 'REGATTAS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for regattas that I've seen before include "Yacht races as part of sporting event" , "Series of boat races" , "Sporting events with boats and yachts" , "Meetings for boat races" , "races at sea" .)