It’s that time of year when the brave or foolish (or both) decide to hit the chilly winter waters of the North Sea to help raise money for local good causes.
The first of the three seasonal splashes takes place on Christmas Day at 10.am prompt on Bridlington North Beach.
This will be the 55th annual dip (a distanced dip was held by individuals last Christmas observing all the imposed Government guidelines at the time), continuing a time honoured tradition in memory of local hairdresser and life-long Bridlington resident Warwick Connelly who started the event over half a century ago.
Steve Tighe from Blast Fitness has recently helped with organising the event and hopes to attract as many people as possible to the North Beach for the morning dip. All monies raised this year will be going to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Christmas Day Dippers are asked to meet no later than 9.45.am on the North Beach Promenade (below the Expanse Hotel) with a splashdown time of 10.am.
Two Boxing Day sea dips will take place this year; one in front of Richie’s Cafe on Bridlington South Beach and the other at North Landing at Flamborough.
There is £1 donation/entry fee for swimmers at the Bridlington event and they can also raise funds for their own charity if they wish. Swimmers are expected to take to the water at 10am with entries taken up until 9.30am followed by a safety briefing.
Richard Preston from Richie’s is once again open and the cafe will be offering bacon sandwiches and hot drinks at a special price for brave, cold water-babies.
At Flamborough, a change of venue to North Landing for the annual dip, and is again in aid of the village pre-school and is one of the main fundraising events for the group.
The theme for fancy dress participants will be builders and tradespeople – in a nod to the fundraising efforts for the pre-school building fund.
Brave participants are asked to arrive at 10.30am on Boxing Day (26 December) for a safety briefing and then a quick dip at 11.am.
The nearby Boathouse Burger and Grill will be open for business offering a free hot drink for dippers and will also be open for business throughout the morning and into the afternoon if the weather is good.
Toilets and changing facilities are available, though limited, and spectators are welcome to watch the brave participants take to the chilly North Sea
Sponsor forms are available from Flamborough Post Office or from the pre-school group which is currently based in the W.I. hut on the Village Green.
