CHRISTMAS DAY HARBOUR SWIM
An annual harbour swim race in Weymouth UK is turning into an almost national event as a record number of people are turning up to take part even though its on Christmas morning.
This year over 336 people arrived to register beating last years record by over 50!
The two hundred-metre swim across the widest part of the harbour goes back to just after World War II when the first swim took place organized by two local publicans.
As well as very serious swimmers many take part dressed in fancy dress and this year saw a giant lobster an octopus Batman and Robin and dozens of Santa’s splashed their way to the finishing ramp.
Lobster on the loose in the Christmas day harbour swim.
For health and safety reasons the harbour swimmers are organized into groups of around 50 individual swimmers.
The harbour swim raises money for various charities as individual entrants swim for sponsorship money braving the often very cold water however this year it was a balmy 10 degrees C!
The youngest swimmer was eight years old three generations of the Browne family took part and one competitor had taken part in 30 annual swims!
Splashing good time on Christmas morning at the Weymouth harbour swim.
Weymouth and Portland Lions Club whose members are on the harbourside early on Christmas morning preparing both sides ready for the event that starts at 11am now organize the race.
CRAZY BRITS HARBOUR SWIM
Even local boat owners are on hand to ferry the swimmer’s bagged up clothes from one side of the harbour to the other and a local group of canoe lifeguards escort the swimmers during the race just in case anyone should get into trouble on the swim.
Yet another group racing in the Weymouth harbour swim.
This harbour swim race attracts thousands of spectators too. They come to line the harbour walls to watch the many races which now appears to be pulling in swimmers from all over the UK and there was even one person from Abu Dhabi, with the UK based entrants this year coming from Liverpool, Lancashire and Suffolk.
Last year over £11,000 was raised this year its already around the £20,000 mark.
Are you brave enough to take part next year?
If so contact these: http://weymouthlionsclub.co.uk/
