It was warmer in than out for the 81 swimmers who dashed into the sea at Friendly Bay yesterday for Oamaru's annual mid-winter swim.
While weather conditions were similar to last year, the number of registrations was up. Fifty took part in 2010.
With the air temperature around 9degC, but with the southerly wind chill factor making it colder than that when the swim started, the prospect of being in the sea did not seem so bad.
Swimmers ranged from Santa Claus to the Joker, but the best was a group of six Oamaru men who were dressed in nappies.
The youngest swimmer was Margaret Weatherall (5) and the oldest Anne Bisson (76), who was on her third mid-winter swim after taking a break for a few years. Money raised went to the Oamaru Rowing Club.
• In South Otago, numbers were down at the Kaka Point mid-winter swim yesterday afternoon, something organisers blamed on "miserable" foggy and misty weather.
About 30 hardy souls dashed into the waves, including 10 members of the "Kaka Point invitational women's world rugby club team" wearing colourful rugby jerseys.
Jade Macguire, wearing a Spiderman outfit, won the trophy for the best dressed swimmer, while Martin Ford in his black speedos was judged least dressed.
The event raised money for the Kaka Point Surf Lifesaving Club.
