The swim was done on an outgoing tide, which is actually a lot tougher than in incoming tide as the swimmers have to make their way back onto the north side of Bar Beach against the rip tide.

Joining them on Sunday was a contingent of four swimmers from the Bermagui Blue Balls winter swimming club.

Member Robert Johnson said the Blue Balls and Pointer, that’s what they call their lady swimmers, thoroughly enjoyed the float and drift.

Once out in the ocean, the water temperature was a balmy 20 degrees or so with plenty of fish visible in the crystal clear water.

“As the first Numnutz disappeared over the horizon after exiting the water and we were still 100 metres from the shore it was reassuring to note that you deliberately waited for us all to safely exit the water before leaving the beach.”

Club founder former Wallaby Gary Pearse as usual swam with the large blue balls, actually two Swiss exercise balls, but had them ripped from his grasp as a wave hit as he made his way back to shore.

The Blue Balls came bearing gifts in the form a bottle of rum and their legendary chocolate rum balls.

All the swimmers then retired to O’Briens Hotel for a delicious and hearty curry broth prepared by Scott Cavanagh of the Raw Prawn Bistro.

Publican Paul O’Brien also played the first episode of Series 3 of River Cottage Australia in which the Narooma Numnutz make an appearance with host Paul West.

Winter swimming going strong at Narooma, Bermagui | Photos

Narooma winter swimmers' record crowd | GoPro Photos