Daring dippers chilling sea dash
AS A VICIOUS cold virus gripped Campbeltown this week some may think splashing in an icecold loch might be just the right remedy.
Anyone with a kill or cure mentality has less than a month to wait until the fifth annual ‘Dip for Dosh’ on New Year’s Day – Monday January 1, 2018
This year, on Sunday January 1, 52 hardy souls plunged into the inviting waters of Campbeltown Loch on a crystal clear day with an azure sea.
They filled Dalintober’s sparkling sands watched by an enormous crowd on the road above.
The organiser, the Dalintober Beach Regeneration Group, is hoping to double the numbers for next year. It has waived the need to wear fancy dress or collect sponsorship although many swimmers will.
Anyone is welcome to join and safety cover is provided by Campbeltown Sailing Club, which has a number of recently qualified res- cue boat drivers. Following the dip there will be hot soup and sandwiches at the sailing club which also opens its bar. For Courier reporter, Hannah O’Hanlon, 2017’s dip was the start of an 12-month swimming odyssey of taking to the sea at a different beach each month. She said: ‘I did it and quite enjoyed it. ‘Because I love swimming in the summer, I was dreading the Dip for Dosh, but it was one of the nicest days of all my swims.’
In February, she headed for home waters at Tayinloan, in March A’Chleit, for April it was Clachan’s Ronachan and Tangy took the honours in May. To celebrate her half a year, Hannah went overseas, in June, to Arran’s Brodick Bay and made an island hop to Gigha for July.
She headed east in August to Saddell, Westport in September, Dunaverty in October and the gripping Gauldrons in November. As yet Hannah is undecided about December.
To be similarly inspired sign up for Dip for Dosh. The exact start time on New Year’s Day depends on the tides and will be announced nearer the date.
For more information, call Jamie McLean on 07796 637735.