Are you ready for the annual famous Looe New Years Day dip with Looe RNLI?

It does not matter if you are a swimmer, wader, dipper or paddler, you could even test the water temperature with your big toe! Everyone is welcome.

The event starts at 11 am on East Looe beach with the kind permission of East Looe Town Trust. A buoy will be anchored 20 or 30m offshore for the swimmers but you could just run in and back out if you fancy a dip rather than a swim. If you are not brave enough to go into the water then why not come along to watch the intrepid bathers from the beach, seafront or Banjo Pier.

Everyone is welcome, join us from 10am to register, sign a waiver form and listen to the important safety briefing. Fancy dress from the night before is optional, if you are not that brave then why not come along in your wetsuit. Refreshments will be available in the station boathouse afterwards.

Entry is free, however participants are encouraged to make a donation to Looe RNLI, this in turn helps our volunteer crew continue to save lives at sea.

Jay Curtis volunteer RNLI crew member at Looe Lifeboat Station says ‘This is the sixth time we have run this event and it increases in popularity each year. Our main aim is to have fun and see in the New Year with a bracing dip in Looe Bay. Looe is always busy over the New Year and we hope as many people as possible will join us and raise funds for Looe RNLI in the process.’

So why not put the date in your diary to join in the fun with Looe Lifeboat Station on the first day of 2018 on East Looe beach.

Crew members organising this event will be keeping a close eye on the weather and sea conditions and may have to make a last minute decision as to the safety of the dip and possible cancellation. All relevant information and updates will be posted on the Looe Lifeboat Station and The famous Looe New Years Day Dip Facebook pages.

Photos:

2 photos attached from last years Looe RNLI New Years Day Dip on 1 January 2017
Photo credits RNLI/Ian Foster

· For further information on Looe RNLI Lifeboats please visit our website www.looelifeboats.co.uk

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Ian Foster, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer for Looe Lifeboat Station, on 07902 753228 or [email protected] or [email protected]

or

Amy Caldwell, RNLI Regional Media Manager, on 07920 818807 or [email protected]

or

Carrie Garrad, RNLI Regional Media Officer, on 07786 668847 or [email protected]

Alternatively you can contact the RNLI Duty Press Officer on 01202 336789.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.