Before the plunge at the Cowes foreshore on September 1, the brave group were all smiles. Polar Bears Mary Kane, Sharyn Cornthwaite, John, Clover and Sailor Wynen, Lisa and Evie McLure, Mel and Jackson Rodakis, James, Christy, Olly and Eli Spottiswood, Paula, Isis and Aurora Wasiak, Jasper and Joel Goodall, Cat Barratt and Kristy Byrnes.
And they’re off! The water temperature this time of year is somewhere in the vicinity of 11 degrees. Chilly!
John and Clover Wynen after taking the 2022 Polar Bear plunge.
And they did it! The team after their chilly dip for Polar Bear 2022.
Denise Rogers, Myra Holmes and Mark Higginbotham at Cowes foreshore after taking the plunge in this year’s Polar Bear swim.
Some Polar Bears post swim: Lisa McLure, John Wynen, Olly, James and Christy Spottiswood, Mel and Jackson Rodakis, and Lisa Hennessy.
Polar Bears were also spotted at the San Remo Jetty, timing their jump to coincide with the action on the Cowes Foreshore.
San Remo Polar Bears welcomed the start of spring with a chilly dip off the jetty.
The annual Polar Bear swim on September 1 returned from several years in hiatus, due to Covid restrictions.
The intrepid group spanning generations gathered on the Cowes foreshore at 5pm for the big dip.
This year, a breakaway group of bears also took the plunge from the jetty in San Remo, as well as some dawn and dusk bears, who braved the water solo, as they were unable to make the main event.
As usual, the event was a casual, noisy and fun affair.
And just why do these bears gather on the foreshore on September 1 each year?
“There’s no why to Polar Bear. It’s just fun and as devoid of structure and meaning as I can make it. Everyone is welcome,” said organiser Jenny Low.
