OVER 600 people braved the rough seas and misty conditions to take part in the Christmas Day swim at Crooklets, Bude.
Before the swim, there was singing from the Bencoolen Wreckers and Dave from Fusion Gym led a warm-up in the clubhouse.
Members of the surf club took to the sea before the swimmers to provide safety cover due to rough seas.
As well as the many hundreds of people in the water, the beach was full of well-wishers, cheering the swimmers on and shaking collecting buckets.
Afterwards, everyone had a chance to dry off and warm up, and enjoy mulled wine and sausage rolls at the surf club.
All money raised from the event will go towards Bude Surf Life Saving Club.
Pete Vickery, a club stalwart, explained that the club changing rooms have to be redesigned and redeveloped to allow for separate changing areas for seniors and junior club members.
The works are estimated to cost in the region of £3,500, so proceeds from the swim will go a long way to pay for the alterations.
Many of the sponsor forms have already been handed in, with some still to come.
This year, as an added incentive, if a person raised at least £20, they were given a free T-shirt.
And also this year, more collecting buckets were bought and the event had support from Rosie’s Kitchen and Caroline’s Café.
Pete said: “I was walking down through the town this morning and everyone was saying what a lovely community event and how it was lovely for Bude.”
The swim dates back to the 1980s and has grown in size and popularity year after year — from a few guys taking a Christmas Day plunge to becoming a major fundraising event in the surf club’s calendar.
Pete added: “I am more than pleased with how it went this year and I was very pleased with how much support we got. Thanks to everyone who helped make it the success it was. It was a misty day, but everybody turned up.”