Another New Year swim done!

Today was DD's second outdoor swim since Christmas. Both in a local gravel pit. Like you *CanadianGran the water. temperature was a round 2 degrees and she swam 4 laps

Brr, Monica, I don't know how she can stay in for so long!

As l walked my dog along the beach in a very bracing north-westerly with a chill factor of minus something there was a group of youngish folk in their undies drying off after a freezing dip. The beach sees regular swimming groups year round but l didn't recognise these shivering souls.
The usual swimming groups (all female) and individuals (mainly women, some men) have been swimming even more frequently over the last week. It has been unusually glorious weather, bright blue skies, almost freezing temperatures and until today, little wind. Often a fire is lit, chairs are brought, food and drink shared. A brief but special time of challenge and camaraderie.

Can be a dangerous pastime too! I understand how good it feels especially enjoying a warm drink with friends afterwards. I used to use the cold plunge pool after a swim in my local leisure centre. My GP advised against it ( I don't have a heart problem and am in good health) She said there is a real danger from cold water shock. I haven't been in the plunge pool since ! Just a thought.

There's a big fashion for it round here. Various lochs and the Firth of Forth are the waters of choice.
My DD swims all year in the River Tay.
I prefer warmer water myself.

Missed the Christmas Day swim this year owing to sore throat and big rough seas but normally do it every year and do do cold water sea swimming which makes you feel wonderful I have never considered it dangerous if you do it properly Never stay in longer than the sea temperature (at the moment the sea is 4*so don’t stay in longer than 4 minutes)
I have never been warned against it by any health officials and only ever heard of positives for it

Brrr ...I'm full of admiration for people who do it,but it doesn't appeal to me .
I watched the programme about the sinking if the Titanic and the shock of the cold water sent some people into immediate cardiac arrest and young fit people had a quarter if an hour before hypothermia set in .

One thing that I really miss - my Boxing Day ride. I looked wistfully as the horses and riders trotted past. It would be for about two hours and followed by a fattening treat !

My DIL swims all year round when she goes home to one of the Channel Islands. My son joined her this year for the boxing day swim. Her old school friends group all dive in but apart from my son, non of their partners were brave enough

My step granddaughter and her boyfriend WhatsApp us yesterday to say they were down in Dorset and had a swim in the sea. It does sound invigorating, I like thinking about it, but thinking is as far as I would get.

Daughter often wild swims and was in the sea yesterday with a group of friends,she sent a picture of them. She and her partner did ice dips and thermal springs in Iceland recently and said it felt amazing. Absolutely not for me!

I don't live anywhere near the coast, but even if I did I would worry about swimming in the sea.

Some of our coastline is filthy, and the sea is an unpredictable force of nature - as the swimmers sadly found out on Christmas Day in Budleigh Salterton.

Desdemona Sadly it's the occasional swimmers who are most at risk as they don't understand the local tides and ignore the signs which tell them not to go in the sea.

Well done 👏🏽
I don’t like cold water swimming even when entering the sea on a hot summers day.
Have always been a bit scared of sea swimming tbh, much prefer our local indoors swimming pool.

I was just going to mention the minutes of dip being the same as the degrees of the water.

I can't say I've ever fancied it though I can't even stand a lukewarm bath

We have s local swimming pond where people can swim all the year round. It has lifeguards and you have to pay so
It is managed. I love a cold water dip - its really good for my arthritis. I do have a wetsuit I wear if I actually want to swim for more than a few minutes. Everyone who swims in the winter has to have a cold water induction. They sometimes have a mobile sauna onsite which is lovely too. I hate chlorinated indoor pools so outdoor sea/ lake swimming is perfect for me.

I've always felt envious of people who live close enough to water to swim all the year round. Just this year for the first time I've thought I'm now too old.

winterwhite

I've always felt envious of people who live close enough to water to swim all the year round. Just this year for the first time I've thought I'm now too old.

There are outdoor swimming venues everywhere. In rivers, lakes, gravel pits, reservoirs, even the sea!!.

DD daughter lives well inland and has at various times swum in the sea, the rivers Thames and Ouse, Nene, gravel pits, if you want wild swimming somewhere near you there will be an appointment.

As to being too old, There are quite a number of people taking it up in their 70s and even 80s.

At least one more death through swimming in the sea in this weather and with the sea conditions!
This time in Withernsea. So others are spending time and possibly risking their lives to hunt for the missing people.
More unhappy families at the start of 2026.

Sadly a second body has been recovered from the sea off the Yorkshire coast.
A BBC reporter has said that the sea was very rough with waves crashing against the sea wall.
Bitterly cold too of course and snowing.
An RNLI spokesman said they faced horrendous conditions with 9 foot waves.

It’s utter madness for anyone to even contemplate swimming in these conditions.

Mollygo

At least one more death through swimming in the sea in this weather and with the sea conditions!
This time in Withernsea. So others are spending time and possibly risking their lives to hunt for the missing people.
More unhappy families at the start of 2026.

But again these deaths are the result of people ignoring warnings. There will always be stupid people, who ignore all warning signs and there will always be brave altruistic people who lose their lives trying to rescue the stupid.

People should respect the sea and not see it as a place for trendy events. Likewise what is referred to as 'wild' swimming.
People have always swam or even paddled, bathed or whatever you want to call it, in seas and rivers, lakes and pits. People have always drowned as a result.
Adults making those decisions is one thing, but when children die it is a real tragedy.
Don't expect me to give you any extra credit for your trendy hobby.

"People should respect the sea and not see it as a place for trendy events. Likewise what is referred to as 'wild' swimming."

Gosh, keepingquiet That's a little bit harsh. I used to swim in the sea and still do if the weather is suitable and the sea is calm. I think it's the name "wild swimming" that's trendy not the activity. I've swum in the sea, lakes and rivers in different countries, it's a healthy, fun and safe activity if proper care is taken and in the past wasn't seen as the least bit "trendy". My last swim in the sea was off a lovely beach in Anglesey. Lots of families, older people like me and not the least bit trendy although the water was cold.

We always go and watch the 'loonydookers' at South Queensferry on New year's Day. Never felt tempted to join them though.

JenniferEccles

Sadly a second body has been recovered from the sea off the Yorkshire coast.
A BBC reporter has said that the sea was very rough with waves crashing against the sea wall.
Bitterly cold too of course and snowing.
An RNLI spokesman said they faced horrendous conditions with 9 foot waves.

It’s utter madness for anyone to even contemplate swimming in these conditions.

Totally agree and it makes me angry that people are so reckless and stupid.