30 bays, 30 days... and a chance to make a splash for two charities

Sunday 28 April 2019

Islanders are being tasked with embracing the benefits of sea swimming across 30 bays in just 30 days to raise money for a palliative care charity and an organisation that looks after land from coast to countryside.

Registration is now open for the fourth annual '30 Bays in 30 Days', where participants will get to enjoy the island coast by swimming in up to 30 bays in July, in aid of the National Trust for Jersey and Jersey Hospice Care.

As well as raising money, organisers 30 Bays in 30 Days is an opportunity for people to re-connect with the island and improve their wellbeing through the benefits of sea swimming.

The opening swim will take place on 30 June and all entrants are invited to get together. They will then gather a second time on Wednesday 31 July to celebrate everyone’s achievements.

Video: The start of '30 Bays in 30 Days' last year.

In between, swimmers will get to decide when and where they want to complete the 30 Bays challenge. This could be before or after work, during a lunch hour or fitting in a few over a weekend.

If they wish, they might even try and tackle the challenge set by one team, who last year cycled from one bay to the other and managed to swim in all 30 in one day.

If swimmers don’t think they can manage all 30 bays, they are still encouraged to register and enjoy as many as they can.

Steven Hunt, Jersey Hospice Care’s Chairman of Fundraising, will be one of the swimmers taking to the water this July. He commented: "30 Bays in 30 Days has become a firm favourite in the calendars of many islanders, with record numbers signing up last year. We hear from people who are swimming in bays on beaches they hadn’t been to in years. Along with The National Trust for Jersey, we are delighted to hear how people are making the best of our wonderful island."

"I always look forward to the first group swim," he added. "It will be great to see some familiar faces and I hope plenty of new ones too. My Victorian swimming costume might even make an appearance again!"

Pictured: Swimmers taking to the water in St. Brelade last summer.

Charles Alluto, Chief Executive of the National Trust for Jersey, said: "We hope as many people as possible will take part and enjoy our 30 Bays in 30 Days challenge. Last year, many people made the most of the fantastic weather and carried on swimming into August, so that they could tick off all the bays. We hope we will be spoilt with similarly warm weather again this year, to encourage people to continue swimming.

"All money raised will be split equally between Jersey Hospice Care and The National Trust for Jersey and will help in The Trust’s pledge to permanently safeguard a further 1,000 vergées of unspoilt coastline forever and for everyone. Please help us to keep Jersey the special place it is."