Organisers finally took the plunge to take the event from Beau Sejour and other secondary school pools to the Bathing Pools at La Vallette, having thought about the idea since Covid times, and seen the explosion in interest in sea swimming since that time.
And so the Salty Swimarathon was born. Organisers hope it might become a permanent fixture in the event.
‘Sea swimming has taken off,’ said Skipton Swimarathon chairman John Stuart. He hoped that more than 200 people would take to the water over the course of yesterday morning and today, and the event would return to La Vallette next year.
‘And that will give even more people the chance to take part and help raise vital funds.’
The bathing pools were set up into two lanes, but in the future this could be increased to four.
Extra safety measures had to be put into place, including an increase of officials around the pool, lifeguards, and also a life raft in place.
Jo Huxtable was part of the Deloitte team among the first batch of swimmers yesterday. She said she thought the Salty swim would prove popular and that it would be well supported.
‘People here are used to these conditions, and being able to get outside, raise money for Les Bourgs Hospice, and create a community through teamwork and relay swimming is something great,’ she said.
‘Teams who come to La Vallette won’t look back.’
Last year’s Swimarathon saw some 1,700 people take part and raised £68,500 for charity. This year’s event started on Wednesday evening and finishes at Beau Sejour tomorrow at noon.
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