Christmas Day Swim

This has to be one of those events where I question the sanity of the participants. Usually, I am not in Brighton for xmas, but for the 2008 festive season I was back in town to visit friends (living in Sweden at the time, I decided to do the rounds for Christmas). We had been up the night before and a touch worse for wear, decided to go watch people get very cold!
I must admit that I now have a lot more respect for some people’s spirit! It was a cold day and the sea was fairly choppy. Still, this didn’t put off a steady stream of folk, who donned their speedo’s to take a dip. Some people came with wetsuits (seemed like a good idea), but a lot of the older aquatic adventurers went hardcore in their basic bathing suits.
We hung around for about 30 minutes and aside from looking pretty cold, everyone involved looked to be having a good time. I’m not sure if this is something I would recommend participation in, but for a heart’warming’ and entertaining start to your Christmas celebrations, this is well worth taking a little stroll down to the beach for.

One of the things that makes Brighton so unique is the madcap events that take place every year like the Naked Cycle Ride to raise awareness of environmental issues and the annual Christmas Day Swim.
I’ve never been brave enough to consider paddling let alone swimming in mid winter but every Christmas Day, dozens of professional and amateur swimmers pull on their trunks and swimming costumes and go for a swim at 11am to the left of Brighton Pier. Hundreds of people turn up to watch and cheer them along and since 12 people had to be rescued in 2007 due to the treacherous weather, there’s now lifeguards in the water — usually dressed in Santa Claus costumes or watersports gear with reindeer horns. I love going to watch and seeing the swimmers emerge a few minutes later looking pleased as punch with themselves. Since its usually freezing — I should mention that they normally emerge shivering, going blue /​purple and reaching for the flasks of coffee and brandy their loved one are anxiously holding!