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The New Year’s Day swimmers in pre-Covid times, January 1st 2020

New Year’s Day swim raises almost £2,000 for Hastings RNLI

The New Year’s Day swim to raise money for Hastings RNLI – Royal National Lifeboat Institution – has been taking place for around 20 years. This year, despite not being able to hold an organised event, the Old Town swimmers raised nearly £2,000. Sarah Corrie remembers her first New Year’s Day dip and interviews organisers Ann Novotny (87) and Craig Sams (76) to find out what the sea means to them.

My first New Year’s Day swim was in 2017. I knew Craig through work and Ann through swimming in the sea. I thought, if they’re still doing it in their 70s and 80s then there’s no excuse for me! It was a grey and drizzly start to the year, the air temperature was around 8 degrees and the sea was about the same. My in-laws were staying, and as I stripped down to my swimsuit, they and my husband, wrapped in winter coats, woolly hats and gloves, shook their heads and told me I was mad.

The water was so cold it felt like I was on fire and took my breath away, but when I got out, I wanted to go back in again, so I did, three times. Now I wouldn’t miss it for the world. It’s a fantastically positive way to start the year. Before the first day is over, you’ve already achieved something on both an individual and collective level. Having been inspired to join this Old Town tradition by Ann and Craig, I decided to find out what the sea means to them.

Ann Novotny (87)

I’ve been going in on New Year’s Day for around twenty years. We’ve raised money for the RNLI every year, apart from last year, when we supported Seaview instead. Craig organises the fundraiser, as he’s more technical than me. Everyone who goes in shares the Just Giving page with their friends and family and asks them to make a donation. We always raise around £1,000, but this year we’ve raised nearly £2,000, which is fantastic. I think people have been inspired that, despite Covid, we are still going in.

I learnt to swim in the sea when I was eight. A man put a rope around my waist and pulled me along. My grandmother had a beach hut in Worthing and during the war my friends and I would cycle down and swim every day.

I love swimming on the fishing beach. Sometimes we stand with our back to the sea and look up at the cliffs and I almost cry with how beautiful it is. I wear a regular swim suit and swim shoes and always get straight in. My friend Angela helps me in and out because I’ve had two knee replacements and if I fall over I can’t get up! I stay in for around 20 minutes, which is nowhere near as long as I used to.

My worst experience in the sea was in Tenerife. I saw a big wave coming and decided to dive into it. I lost my footing and couldn’t find it again. I remember thinking I’m going to drown in my brand new swim suit! Then a man pulled me out.

My top tip for anyone wanting to start sea swimming is to join a group. I’d go in every day if I had the time.

Craig Sams (76)

I’ve been doing the New Year’s Day swim to raise money for the Lifeboat for around 15 years. That kind of voluntary commitment is just so admirable. I’m so pleased that we’ve already raised nearly £2,000, it would be great if we could get to £3,000.

My first memory of the sea is running in and out of the waves on Venice Beach when I was three. I don’t go anywhere when I’m swimming. I like to dive, so I’ll flip over and go down and look around at the bottom and come back up. I wear swim shoes and swim trunks and I always go straight in. I don’t see any point in postponing the inevitable, otherwise it’s like slow torture.

I used to stop by the end of October, but nowadays I keep going. Everybody’s doing it, the attitude towards cold water has changed. There’s no question that when your body reacts to extreme cold it feels good afterwards and it feels good for a long time. When I’m on the phone I’ll look out the window and see the sun shining and think I need to go in.

My worst experience was in Goa on Anjuna Beach about twelve years ago. I didn’t know it had a strong current and when I saw someone else in the water, I thought it was safe. They drowned. By the time I managed to drag myself onto the beach I had just a couple of breaths left in me.

A defining experience was the time I swam out to the end of the Harbour Arm and climbed up the ladder. I was standing there and when you’re up there it looks a long way down. My friend in the water told me to just get on with it and so I jumped. It’s like a rite of passage for the local teenagers, but I was 59 years old.

If you’re starting to sea swim for the first time, just remember that once you get used to it you’ll realise you’re happier in the sea than any where else.

If you would like to support the Hastings RNLI, you can donate to the New Year’s Day Swim fundraiser here.

Operating both all-weather and inshore lifeboats, Hastings lifeboat crews have been presented with over 30 awards for gallantry. The station was established in 1858 at the request of the local inhabitants after a wreck had occurred there with the loss of the whole crew of the vessel. The lifeboat was one of 19 that took part in the evacuation of forces from Dunkirk and during the 1939-1945 war it was launched 48 times and rescued 21 lives.

The RNLI’s key safety advice for taking a winter dip is:

  • Don’t swim alone – always go with someone else to a familiar spot
  • Always check the weather forecast, including tide information and wave height
  • If in doubt, stay out – there is always another day to go for a swim
  • Take plenty of warm clothes for before and after your dip, along with a hot
  • drink to help you warm up again when you come out of the water
  • Wearing a wetsuit will help increase your buoyancy and reduce the chances of suffering cold water shock
  • Be seen – wear a brightly coloured swim cap and consider using a tow float
  • Acclimatise to the water temperature slowly – never jump straight in
  • Stay in your depth and know your limits
  • If you get into trouble remember FLOAT to live by leaning back in the water, extending your arms and legs, and resisting the urge to thrash around to gain control of your breathing
  • Take a mobile phone in a waterproof pouch
  • If you or someone else is in trouble call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard

The RNLI has released a new safety advice video for anyone considering taking a dip in the sea this winter. The safety video can be viewed here.

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Posted 16:39 Sunday, Jan 17, 2021 In: Hastings People

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