What will you be doing at noon on January 1?
Hundreds of people from Helensburgh, the lochside and even further afield will be gathering at Rhu Marina for the traditional New Year swim.
The chilly waters of the Gareloch prove an unmissable attraction for hundreds of madcap festive folk every new Year’s Day and 2019 looks like being no exception.
The swim is organised under the auspices of the RNLI and as usual the Rhu-based lifeboat crew will be on hand both in and out of the water to ensure that when the hooter goes at noon all the hardy swimmers will be cold and wet but very safe.
If you are planning to come along please remember that, for safety reasons, any swimmers under the age of eight must be a competent swimmer, able to swim at least 50 metres, and must be accompanied onto the pontoons and in the water by an appropriate adult.
Various information and safety signs will be provided at the access to the pontoons and all participants or group leaders must read and understand the signs before taking part.
It is recommended that swimmers do not walk to the pontoon barefoot but either wear shoes which can be handed to a friend or light footwear that can be safely worn in the water.
The RNLI team of volunteers will be on duty in the boat shed to provide hot soup for the swimmers when they return to shore and every swimmer will be given the certificate with its motto ‘Many are Cauld but Few are Frozen’ which is provided every year by Donald Fullarton and Admin Systems.
The swim will take place at Rhu Marina on New Year’s Day at noon and participants are asked to come along early to make sure they are registered before the swim begins.
To help they could fill in the form at the end of this article (PDF file) and bring it along with them on the day.
The New Year Swim has been part of the annual calendar in Helensburgh for nearly 100 years and originally took place at Helensburgh pier, but when its survival was threatened by health and safety issues at the pier the swim was moved to Rhu Marina. New Year Swim indemnity form 2019
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