The anticipation of cold water swimming season

For the last few years, the Salty Seabirds have been swimming in the sea year round. It wasn’t a conscious decision. It just sort of happened. A few friends started meeting on the beach to swim one May and we just didn’t stop. We were just a bunch of ordinary people who began regularly sea swimming due to changes in our personal lives. These changes meant we had the time in our normally busy, modern day, lives to take to the water at short notice and during the working day. Every month going in was another notch on the bed post although we convinced ourselves we hadn’t set ourselves arbitrary goals. Making it to December and the end of 2017, was a real highlight. Making it through January, February and March 2018, when the Beast from the East turned up, really tested our determination. Swimming in the snow and frozen shingle. Who knew that would be a thing. And years on our swimming community group has grown considerably but we’re still getting in.

Our once small swimming group all agreed that we would make concessions for the cold to ensure we were still able to get in the sea. Even if it meant donning a wet-suit which we were very keen to avoid. But, if it meant the difference between getting in or not, we would wear a wet-suit. This never happened and to this day we still go in without one

We are not skin swimming purists, the neoprene nazis you hear tell of. We don’t judge neoprene clad swimmers. We believe you should wear what you feel comfortable in to ensure you get in. If the cold is a barrier then neoprene is the key that unlocks that door. As long as you get in who cares what you wear! Skin swimming is, for us, a choice we made as we hate the restriction of a wet-suit. However, if you aren’t blessed with a slight middle aged spread, get your seal skin on.

We do have some adaptations though. The head stops going in when the sea temperature drops out of double digits. We revert to a shoulder aching, face out, breast stroke. This is when my collar bone gets cold, a painful burning cold, from being both in and out of the water and the inevitable wind chill. So sometimes I wear a neoprene vest over my swim suit. Neoprene boots/socks are also a great kit addition. Not just for traversing the shingle beach to enter the sea, but to get out. You need to know that when it is time to get out, you can get out and get out quickly and safely. We double hat to preserve heat and pull on gloves to stop gnarly hands. See, hardly skin swimming purists, more cold water swimming with reasonable adaptations!

Swimming safely is also a massive consideration. We know only too well what can happen if you get too cold in the water. More concessions are made in the colder months. In deepest darkest winter when the water temperature plummets our swims are no more than a few minutes. But that’s all you need to feel the benefits of the cold water. We never swim alone. If it’s too rough we just don’t go in or we pilchard on the beach. (Pilcharding is lying down in the shallows on the shingle in a line allowing the cold waves to wash cold water over you.)

We also have the best selection of cold combating after wear, accessories and refreshments. Hot tea and cake is an absolute must. Along with a woolly hat, woolly socks and woolly gloves The brighter and more garish the better. A brisk walk is better than a bath afterwards.

Lots of layers, it sounds obvious but we love our core warmers and snug bud hot water bottle slings. A fleece lined sports cloak is brilliant to get changed under and indeed travel home in. And clothes to easily get on afterwards when your hands just do not function with the cold. Tights and skinny jeans are not part of an outdoor swimmers staple wardrobe. Nor are bras. And sometimes knickers when we forget to pack them. 

So we made it though our first winter with our concessions and cold combating accessories. The positive impact on our well being being the driving force. In fact, we swam more regularly during the cold months than we do all summer. And now here we are again, turning to face the changing season. The first time full of naïve anticipation. This time, with more winter swims under notched on our bedposts, full of nervous anticipation. While the sea has been warmer and our swims longer we are looking forward to the more social winter swims. With heads out we get more time to chat. The chat is a necessary part of the swim, not just for our well being. It also allows us to regulate our breathing as we adapt to the sudden drop in temperature and prevents cold water shock and panic. Sometimes we sing too.

Whether it’s your first year swimming through winter or you are a seasoned swimmer you know the sea is going to get cold and so therefore are you! And you will wonder why am I doing this. And you will question can I do this? And you will want to get get out the minute you get in when it’s bitterly cold and raining. And your skin will burn with the cold and your breath will be stolen. But while you are thinking all of these thoughts a transformation happens. You don’t see it coming and it’s hard to pin point when but….. You realise you can do it, you know why you’re doing it and your skin stops burning and your breathing regulates. You’ve just got to take that first step into the water and when you step back out, you’ll feel better!