New Year dip
Minions, Borats, Wallies and even Star Wars stormtroopers turned up on Jávea's Arenal beach on New Year's Day for the traditional charity dip in the Mediterranean. See full report by Jack Troughton and more photos on
RECORD numbers celebrated New Year’s Day with a bracing dip in the sea at Jávea – cheered on by hundreds of people who chose to stay on dry land.
The New Year’s Day swim at the Arenal beach has become an annual act of madness and is now an ‘official’ fixture on the town’s calendar and a popular charity fundraiser.
The swim – the event now has a 30-year history - raised just over €2,567 to be shared between children’s charity Make a Smile and Jávea Youth Rugby.
And once again it was a colourful event as Minions mixed with Darth Vader and Storm Troopers, Father Christmases, elves, clowns and pirates, all ready and willing for a 10-minute submersion in the beautiful briny sea.
An ideal method of brushing away the cobwebs of the previous night’s celebrations, the swim has become some- thing of a legend and around 200 people got their feet – and other body parts – wet.
Nigel and Karen Rushton, of the Lancashire Bruja Bar, organised the charity event for the 21st year and numbers heading into the Mediterranean were boosted by swimmers taking part on a whim.
The swim is supported by a number of Jávea businesses, a beach bucket collection, sponsorship of swimmers... and the contents of the bar’s swear box.
Nigel, who leads the race into the water each year armed with a reviving hip flask, emerged from the water to report on conditions and said: “It was absolutely freezing! Quite a lot of people went in and came straight out.
“But it was great to see so many people taking part and a huge crowd on the beach supporting the swimmers.”
Karen, who normally officiates but this year gave up her time-keeping duties to look after grandson Braxton on the Arenal promenade, said swimmers were expected to remain in the sea for 10 minutes to complete the charity challenge.
“It was a really big turnout this year. Who knows why it has become so popular – all these people must be mad,” she said. “Nigel says it gets colder and colder every year.
“We have been organising the swim for 21 years now. It has come of age and it is at least 30 years of people getting their feet wet for charity.”