The 12 Bays of Christmas

The fun, festive sea swimming challenge raising money for Les Bourgs Hospice is back!

The 12 Bays of Christmas encourages islanders and visitors who have continued swimming since September (or are seasoned year-rounders) to take a dip at 12 bays listed on a map between 1-31 December. 

Each bay on the list has a festively-themed name and means that there should be plenty of options for more sheltered swims depending on the weather.

The event raises money for local charity, Les Bourgs Hospice.

Launch event

Taking place at La Vallette Bathing Pools on Saturday 29 November (8am-2pm), take a dip in the pools and enjoy a free hot drink kindly sponsored by Advisory Services.

With the log burner fired up and a Christmas market upstairs in the Swallow Pavillion, things will be looking especially festive. 

The bays

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 (water safety warning: we recommend that you do not swim beyond the end of the pier)
9. NEW - Pembroke-come all ye faithful 
10. Cheese & Port Soif
11. Grandes Rocques-in Robin
12. Bordeaux-ho-ho (water safety warning: please do not swim outside of the harbour entrance and beware of boat traffic)

Safety information

Due to the colder water and air temperatures, you must be medically fit to participate. Each person has a different tolerance to the cold therefore there is no set number of strokes, distance or time that you need to be in the water. Feel free to just to take a quick dip and get out, and wear a wetsuit (encouraged for U18s). If you start the challenge, there is no obligation to complete it - the emphasis of the event is being aware of what you can achieve and not going beyond those limitations.

Please take all precautions to keep yourself and others safe around water. For guidance, then please see www.adventuresmarkt.uk/open-water-swimming. which offers specific safety advice for open water swimming.

To be Adventure Smart, ensure you follow their code:

• Am I confident I have the knowledge and skills for the day?
• Do I know what the weather and tides will be like?
• Do I have the right gear, which includes a form of emergency communication? (I.e. a whistle or phone).

There are plenty of online resources that will aid you in making your decisions. These include Seeker.gg and Weatherfox for weather forecasting and gov.gg for tides. Please avoid swimming on Spring High Tides, and please ensure that at least one member of your group has a tow float.

Don't forget, not every day is a swim day, so if the conditions are not right, then please wait for a better opportunity. If in doubt, stay out.

If you decide that this event is still for you, you can find more information here.