We are delighted and incredibly grateful to Rocq Capital for supporting this year's 12 Bays of Christmas fundraiser which means that the maximum amount of money raised from this event can go directly to Les Bourgs Hospice in helping us to deliver free, specialist care to patients and their relatives and loved ones. www.rocqcapital.com

Following the overwhelming success of this new Winter sea swimming event over the last couple of years we are excited to run it again in 2023. Inspired by an idea dreamt up by the Marley and Sealey families who are all keen sea swimmers we had nearly 600 people take up the challenge last year so would love to get more people signed up and actually hit that milestone this year!

The 12 Bays of Christmas event encourages islanders who have continued swimming since September or are seasoned year-rounders to take a dip in 12 bays listed on a map between 1^st -31^st December. Each bay on the list has a festively-themed name so we hope that there are plenty of options for more sheltered swims depending on the weather.

1) Vaz-on the first day of Christmas
2) Rocquaine around the Christmas Tree
3) Bathing Yules
4) Baby it's Cobo outside
5) Porte-let it snow
6) Away in Fermain-ger
7) Saint Nick's Bay
8) Chestnuts Rousse-ing on an open fire
9) I'm dreaming of a Moulin Huet Christmas
10) Cheese & Port Soif
11) Grandes Rocques-in Robin
12) Bordeaux-ho-ho

Please note that due to the colder water and air temperatures you must be medically fit to participate and due to the time of year we strongly recommend that you check the tide and weather before swimming. We recognise that each person has a different tolerance to the cold therefore we have intentionally not set a number of strokes, distance or time to be in the water for. If you want to just dip and get out that is fine by us, as is the wearing of wetsuits (encouraged for U18s) and if you start the challenge there is no obligation to complete it - the emphasis is completely on you being aware of what you can achieve and not going beyond those limitations.

If you decide that this event is still for you please keep reading then get signed up! When you register you will have the opportunity to purchase one of our bobble hats which will not only keep you warm during the event but will also help you spot other swimmers who are taking part in the challenge so give them a wave or say hello! We do, however, encourage you to donate old hats that you may not be using to a local charity shop or collections for Humanitarian Aid.

Your registration pack will include a beautifully illustrated map by the talented The Tiny Island Studio and an information sheet to help you swim safe and warm up properly afterwards.

You will be able to opt to:

1. Have your registration pack posted out (at an additional cost to cover postage).
    
2. Collect it from our charity shop in St. Martins (Monday to Saturday 9am-4.30pm). PLEASE NOTE - this option will only be available from Monday 12th November as our Christmas shop opens on 11th so our team will be very busy!
    
3. Collect it from the Guille-Alles Library who have kindly allocated us some space in their entrance hall on the following dates. Please note this will be between 12-1.30pm & 5-6.30pm;
   
   Thursday 16th November 
   Tuesday 21st November
   Tuesday 23^rd November
   Thursday 25^th November
   Tuesday 28^th November
   Thursday 30th November
    
4. Collect from La Vallette Bathing Pools for our 12 Bays Day on Saturday 2nd December (10am-2.30pm), Tick it off your list and grab a hot drink (kindly sponsored by Rocq Capital) and mini mince pie (kindly sponsored by Manor Farm Foods). It will be particularly festive this year with the log burner fired up and a small Christmas market in the upstairs room too!

If you would like to read more about cold water swimming you can access our information sheet in the downloads section or please visit websites such as outdoorswimmingsociety.com or Wild Swimming UK.

Thank you for your support.