Overview
- Many Christmas Day swims went ahead in sheltered spots, including Ilfracombe Harbour with kayak cover, Hunstanton after a start-line move, and large turnouts at Boscombe, Brighton, Cullercoats, Lowestoft and Clacton.
- The Met Office issued a yellow wind warning for south‑west England and much of Wales on December 25, forecasting 45–55mph gusts and up to 65mph on exposed coasts with large waves a risk.
- The UK Health Security Agency placed south‑west England under a yellow cold‑health alert from 6pm December 25 to noon December 27 due to low temperatures affecting vulnerable people.
- Several long‑running events were called off or rescheduled, including Coverack moved to New Year’s Day, Felixstowe postponed to 2026, Torcross and Teignmouth cancellations, and Dublin’s Forty Foot dip abandoned with swimmers relocating to Sandycove.
- Safety bodies and organisers urged short dips, proper warm clothing and not swimming alone, with RNLI ‘Float to Live’ guidance reiterated and on‑site measures used where events proceeded.