The 2018 New Year Swim is a big success for RNLI fund raisers
Crowds gather at Rhu Marina in Helensburgh for the New Year Swim.
By Lucy Ashton
Helensburgh RNLI Fund-raising committee have reported that 163 intrepid swimmers of all ages joined in the New Year Swim at the RNLI slipway at Rhu Marina on New Year’s day.
Fortunately the weather was not as bad as had been predicted and was mainly dry with a water temperature of 7.6 degrees.
Watched by a crowd of some 500 supporters, a great time was had by all and about £935 was raised for the RNLI .
Fundraisers served hot soup to everyone who took part.
A committee spokesperson said: “Thanks have to go again to Fiona Howard and Graham Barr for their help with registering the swimmers; the Coastguards for their shoreside safety support; Donald Fullarton for designing the certificates; Alan Cavana of Admin Systems for producing them, and the Winter Festival Committee for kindly allowing us to use their pedestrian barriers.
“[We also wish] to thank the Marina for hosting the day and the lifeboat crew who were in the water throughout providing safety for the swimmers and finally – to all who braved the water.”
