New years celebrations started early in Westward Ho! this year as hundreds of people flocked to the beach on Sunday, December 29 for the premature New Year’s Day dip.
Peter Sawyer, owner of Kite-Mare Surf and Kite Shop in Westward Ho! has always been the organiser of the annual New Year’s Day Dip in Westward Ho!
Pete made the decision to move the event forward due to the awful weather forecast for January 1.
Pete said: ‘When Mother Nature throws you a massive bag of lemons – you have a lemonade party on the beach and a premature New Year’s Day Dip 2024/2025.”
Support for the event comes from Jack Johns, Rob Braddick, local businesses, South West Event Management Solutions CIC and Medicare South West.
The New Year’s Day Dip began in 2018 and was one of many events that Peter organised in the village; after Covid struck the local events were hugely impacted, however, the New Year’s Day Dip is now back to stay and is more popular than ever.
Growing year on year the event saw hundreds of participants make the dash into the freezing water – whilst hundreds more spectated and cheered them on.
Westward Ho! has been buzzing with a string of awesome events over the Festive Period – including the return of the Sandy Santa Fun Run, the Ho Ho Ho Night and the dip.
Martin Hollingsworth said:
‘Great event and atmosphere – thanks to all involved in making it happen! Coming from Sydney, Australia it was such a contrast at this time of year – I will remember this for a very long time and no longer bleat about 15 degrees during our winter swims…’
Business owner Rob Braddick said: ‘“What a fantastic turn out considering the date changed a few days before,that’s when social media works great.”
Lucy Lowe from South West Event Management added: “This is a much anticipated annual event and it’s fantastic that Peter et al have successfully pulled the event forward and everyone got to join in.
“Absolutely amazing event – we’ve loved every minute. Weather-wise New Year’s Day would be too dangerous – but the weather today was perfect.”