TEAMS of experienced swimmers of all ages took the plunge into the Bude Sea Pool from 6am on Saturday, and swam their chosen distance — a mile or more — in relays.
It was the third such event hosted by the Friends of Bude Sea Pool. Their first Charity Channel Challenge was in 2013.
The aim for the teams was to complete 22 miles in the water to match the width of the English Channel, raising funds for the sea pool with every stroke.
The teams were not only local. Teams from Christchurch, Bournemouth, Essex and beyond also took part.
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Among those who took the plunge was Cassandra Patten, Olympic Open Water medal-winning swimmer. Cassandra also offered free swimming training and coaching sessions at Bude Sea Pool on Sunday.
Sponsorship money raised together with the entry fee, will contribute towards the cost of the pool’s ongoing upkeep and enhancements.
The Sea Pool at Bude was created in the 1930s to provide a haven for safe swimming for the people of the town and the thousands of people who visit it each year.
The pool is topped up twice a day by the waves of the Atlantic.
The Friends of Bude Sea Pool was formed in early 2011 to secure the pool’s future under local management.