Originally an event for fun and swum by a small number of mainly local residents with members of the Stevenson fishing family showing well in the results - cancelled from two weeks ago due to inclement weather, the Newlyn to Penzance open water swim now attracts hundreds of competitors - with so many entrants the race has no longer starts by seeing competitors jump from the end of the Newlyn Harbour North quay as had been the case for many years......
and has moved to a line running from the shore where the Fishermen's Monument is to a moored buoy offshore......
hundreds of supportes head for a better vantage point on Newlyn Green...
to see the plucky swimmers make their way into the unusually still waters......
and make their way to the start line...
before being shouted at by the starter to get in line....
seconds to go before the blast on the air gun signals the off....
at which point the water turns white as hundreds of arms and legs flaili in the water...
after a few minutes the filed begins to stretch out with St Michael's Mount away in the distance....
half way to the finish and the swimmers are well spread in the Bay.....
finding the slip at the finish is easier for the taller racers....
as they arrive en masse....
some getting more than a warm towel at the end...
all proceeds in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support...
last but one, Suzie in the field gets an escort...
finally receiving a helping hand...
with a thank you salute to....
Patch and the boys aboard the IRB signalling the end this year's race.
