Brits pluck up the courage to brave the freezing sea in annual New Year's swim
Andrew Walker
Published Mar 22, 2026
REVELLERS have braved the cold seas for a New Year's Day dip across Britain, beginning 2018 with a splash.
Thousands of people raced into the seas despite the wintry conditions, many raising money for charity.
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James Baggott, who is an event fundraising officer in the Solent at Stokes Bay, Gosport, said: "It's one of those strange, local traditions where people in the local area decide to take a dip in the Solent - but it's a great way for us of raising funds and showing the local community that we are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, on duty to save lives.
"We are not part of the RNLI so events like this are really important for us to raise money.
"There was a bit of a rush last night with people signing up, as people had a bit of Dutch courage and were encouraged by their friends to join in."
He added: "There is quite a lot of bravado with people encouraging each other to go in - but when they do, they realise how cold the water is.
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"It's quite a shock, so people don't spend very long in the water.
"It's more of a New Year's paddle than a swim."
Participant Jade Slater, 21, a student nurse, said: "I always take part, it's a bit crazy but it's great fun and a great way to start the new year and to raise money for charity as well."
Here's how they marked the tradition abroad...
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