New Year's Day Swim

1st January

A wet welcome for the New Year begins with a generous soaking for anybody who ventures near the Marais Square, courtesy of the Alderney Fire Brigade and continues with the first swim of the year at Braye Bay.

The new year kicks off in Alderney with a very wet start, as the traditional first swim of the year takes place at midday on Braye Beach.  Every year more than 50 brave swimmers of all ages, some in fancy dress and others sporting only swimwear head into the icy waters of the English Channel for the Annual Alderney New Year’s Day swim.

2008 marked the 27th anniversary of the swim, an event which can only be described as a chilling experience and guaranteed to cure any hangovers.

Elsewhere on the island a generous dowsing is given to those who are brave enough to venture anywhere near the Marais Square, as the Alderney Fire Brigade stand armed with their hoses and strict instructions to soak anyone in their aim. Those who were really unlucky are dunked in the old cattle trough in the centre of the square.