Published: Thursday, 7th January, 2010 11:37am

Young and old brave the cold

by Fiona Howard

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More than 100 people took part in the New Year dip at Rhu Marina.

SOME 184 'masochists' celebrated New Year by jumping into the icy Gareloch at Rhu - and 500 'sadists' turned out to watch!

The annual New Year Swim, held at Rhu Marina, and organised by Provost Billy Petrie and his family along with a group of willing helpers, was a huge success in spite of freezing weather and raised £931 for the RNLI, bringing the total over the years to £8,412.43.

The water temperature was reported variously as five or eight degrees, the morning was dry and crisp and there had been little or no thaw; so goose pimples were very much the order of the day as the intrepid swimmers made their way to the pontoon they were to jump off before swimming ashore.

The "off" was signalled with a wave this year, the usual loud hailer have gone adrift somewhere, and the first man in was Dave Mornington from Helensburgh.

He said as he emerged from the bitterly cold water: "Its freezing but the coldest bit was waiting on the jetty."

THIS WEEK'S HELENSBURGH ADVERTISER FEATURES A TWO-PAGE PICTURE SPECIAL ON THE SWIM. PICK UP YOUR COPY TODAY!