BWCI Castle Swim attracts more than 500 participants

The annual event saw 575 islanders swimming from the Havelet slipway to the Horseshoe pool.

Swimmers set off in batches from 1pm.

Guernsey Swimming Club secretary Anne Cann said it had all gone well.

‘There were a few more people than last year, which is always good to see,’ she said.

‘And it is always great to see an event bring so many people together.’

The first person to make it across the bay in the first batch was Zechariah Williams, 25.

It was his first year taking part.

‘My girlfriend works for BWCI, which is sponsoring the event,’ he said.

‘I grew up swimming.

‘But I did not expect to be the first one.

‘There was a swell, especially towards the end.’

Friends Caroline Wickham, 62, and Fionnuala Carvill, 58, are swim buddies and do the swim together every year.

‘We always make an appointment to do the Castle Swim together,’ said Ms Wickham.

‘We’ve been doing the swim for a number of years, maybe up to 10 years.

‘It was beautiful conditions out there today. There was a rough part.’

For one swimmer the swim was extra special – Shaun Leech was celebrating his 62nd birthday.

He was joined by a number of family members for the swim.

‘It was a nice thing to be able to do.’

His granddaughter Olivia Stanbury, 11, was taking part in her first Castle Swim.

‘Some of my cousins were doing it and I really wanted to do it,’ she said.

‘It was not too cold – I was glad to have my wetsuit.’

Islanders paid a £5 entry fee, and some paid a little extra, meaning that about £3,000 was raised for local charities.

The money raised will be split between Les Bourgs Hospice, Guernsey Welfare Service and Grow Ltd.