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Despite an “exceptional year” of above average sea temperatures, the "cold snap" in early December means that sea temperatures have dropped right back down as islanders get ready for their Christmas Day swims.
Met Office duty forecaster Robert Plummer said that swimmers will have to brave sea temperatures of around 10°C.
He also noted that low tides on Christmas Day morning will mean that shivering participants will face a longer walk to and from the water’s edge.
Mr Plummer explained that the weather forecast for the 25th is “tricky” to predict but is looking “increasingly wet”. However, the air temperature will be “reasonably mild”, and it won’t be particularly windy.
“Spectators are going to get wet anyway, so you might as well get in!” he added.
Christmas Day sea swimming events will be taking place at Grève de Lecq, Havre des Pas, the Watersplash and Le Braye on Sunday with hundreds of islanders expected to join in.
Pictured: Hundreds of islanders will take place in various sea swims across the island.
David Ferguson, President of the Channel Islands Surfing Federation, confirmed that the Jersey Surfboard Club swim is due to go ahead at the Watersplash at 11:00 on Christmas Day.
However, the Club will be reviewing the weather on Saturday to confirm if the conditions are suitable.
David said: “If the weather is utterly horrendous with a swell over two metres, then the swim will move to Absolute Adventures at St. Brelade’s Bay at the same time.”
The Jersey Surfboard Club will be raising money for two charities at the swim: Jersey Hospice Care and Jersey MND Association.
Everyone is invited to warm up at the Watersplash post-swim.
The Jersey Swimming Club’s annual swim at Havre des Pas – which usually attracts around 500 people – is open to both members and non-members.
The Club’s event is the longest running Christmas Day swim in the island, and has been religiously held at 11:00 at Havre Des Pas since the early 1900s.
Carole Penfold, president of the Jersey Swimming Club, said: “It makes me laugh when people call up and ask what time the Christmas Day Swim starts at, because it’s been at 11:00 forever!”
This year, the Jersey Swimming Club will be raising money for Jersey Cheshire Homes, a charity which supports islanders with disabilities.
Carole said: “If everyone just bought a £1 coin to the swim, we would be able to raise around £500 for charity, which would be a fantastic amount.”
She also reminded swimmers to wrap up warm and bring a hot drink as “the weather won’t stop us from going in!”
St. Ouen’s Football Club is also hosting a Christmas swim at Grève de Lecq at 11:00.
Cash and card donations will be accepted on the day in aid of Jersey Hospice Care, and Le Moulin De Lecq will be serving mulled wine afterwards.
Ocean therapy charity Healing Waves will also be hosting its Christmas Day swim and surf event, Jingle all the Waves, for the second year running.
The event will be kicking off outside the Healing Waves Surf Therapy Centre at 09:30 for a photo before swimmers get in the water shortly before 10:00.
The charity is calling for Surfing Santas, Riding Reindeers, and Epic Elves to help raise much-needed extra funds to go towards the charity’s fully inclusive surf therapy centre, with a prize on offer for the best costume.
Want to know what else is going on over the Christmas period? Check out Art Fix here...
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