Porthdinllaen RNLI New Year`s Dip raises £2269 for the charity.

Despite the chilly and overcast conditions, the sea was flat calm as the brave, many in fancy dress, gathered at Morfa Nefyn beach slipway for the annual Porthdinllaen New Year’s Day dip.

To provide safety cover, the station`s Tamar Class Lifeboat, the John D Spicer and the station`s boarding boat were launched to the thrill and cheer of the crowd that had lined the shore. For the intrepid bathers a buoy was anchored offshore and several swam around the buoy, but to many a brief dip was enough before coming back out again. Crowds of spectators watched and cheered the dippers from vantage points along the beach.

Crew members from Porthdinllaen Lifeboat Station along with the local Coastguard team, together with lifeboat operations manager Kenneth Fitzpatrick, acted as the beach safety team, and who also at 12 o clock midday, gave the countdown for the dip. To huge cheers, the dippers raced down the slipway and into the chilly water.

Several of our fundraising volunteers were on hand to serve hot drinks, for the swimmers to warm up after their dip in Morfa Nefyn bay. The event raised a total of £2,269 for Porthdinllaen Lifeboat Station.

Kenneth Fitzpatrick, Lifeboat Operations Manager at Porthdinllaen added: ‘Our thanks to those that took part in the dip, we had visitors from afar as Canada taking part. The event has grown in popularity over the years and this saw a record 342 brave the water to raise funds for the charity that saves lives at sea. Our thanks to all supporters, to Dave and Karen Hursthouse for giving up their time to assist in the registration of the dippers, and to the girls who provided a warm cuppa to all who took part. We are already looking forward to next Year’s dip’.

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.

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