Committed swimmers from local open water swimming club Chalkwell Redcaps endured conditions more usually found in December to take part in one of their regular ‘summer’ swims on Sunday.
On a grey and windy morning 39 swimmers turned out for the Crowstone Crawl swim in waves up to 3 feet high. Most wore wetsuits but the hardiest few took to the waters in just their swimming costumes for a few laps of the 300m course.
Members of Chalkwell Lifeguards were on hand both on shore and in the water, and thankfully their services were not needed. Not many others were using the beach either!
Chalkwell Redcaps is an informal social swimming club founded in 2009 by father and daughter Iain and Olivia Keenan. As well as club swims and outings the group supports the annual Havens Hospices Great Pier Swim with event advice and club members taking part.
The Havens Hospices Great Pier Swim 2015 takes place on 12th July and is open to all swimmers. This year also sees the opportunity for young swimmers to take part. All proceeds go to Havens Hospices and more info can be found on the Havens Hospices Website.
Tony Marshall of the Redcaps is also fundraising for Little Havens by undertaking a solo Channel crossing swim on 15th July. Tony is swimming in memory of his close friend and swimming partner Tony Mellett who died suddenly in 2014. Donations in support can be made at https://www.justgiving.com/Tonys-channel-swim
An album of photos from the swim can be found on my Google Photos site here.
andrew kenyon photography 