This was the coldest swim so far this year and only nine hardy swimmers showed up, with a number of members out of town or perhaps taking shelter from the cold.

There were reports of frost at Mystery Bay and Ringlands, with the official outside temperature recorded at 6 degrees. 

The main parking lot at Bar Beach however was packed as the Dalmeny Boardriders had decided to relocate from Kianga to the bar crossing due to better surf conditions.

With this in mind, the winter swimmers decided not to crash the boardriders party by swimming out and around the bar, instead doing the more tame swim across Bar Bay to the shark net and back.

The last of an outgoing tide had the water temperature at a chilly 15 degrees, the coldest this year so far, although there was a nice warm patch at the halfway point at the shark net where a usual mid-swim jokes were told.

This swim for the first time was captured on a drone flying above being piloted by local Clarkie, which resulted in some excellent footage, while there was also a GoPro on hand for underwater footage.

After the swim and post-swim drinks at the southern breakwater, the Numnutz retired to O’Briens Hotel for an excellent cream-of-chicken soup.