A massively popular swimming event will definitely not go ahead this year, despite a do-not-swim warning being lifted.
The Boxing Day Dip in Deal usually attracts hundreds of participants and thousands of spectators and has been running for years in the seaside town.
Sadly, the Boxing Day Dip in Deal will not go ahead this year. Picture: Tony Flashman
It was scrapped last year however after the water at Deal Castle Beach was downgraded to ‘poor’ by the Environment Agency (EA), prompting advise to stay out of the sea.
In October, organisers announced the event would not go ahead this Boxing Day, as the ‘poor’ rating remained in place.
However, last month, the EA returned a new rating for the water, which is now classified ‘good’.
There was fresh hope the dip would therefore return, but now, bosses say this is just not possible due to how long it takes to organise.
Ian Dunkerley, vice-president of co-organisers, The Rotary Club of Deal, told KentOnline: “We are very disappointed.
“This involved trying to concertina six months of planning and organising into a few weeks. We were pushing like mad for it to happen but found we could not get our ducks in a row in time.
Participants of Deal’s Boxing Day Dip in 2019. Picture: Alan Langley
“The boat has now sailed and we can only hope it can be held next year.”
About 500 to 600 swimmers take part each year, and all have to be registered.
Organisers also have to carry out tasks such as multiple risk assessments and ensure insurance demands are met, along with liaising with groups such as the district council and the coastguard.
Deal’s new ‘good’ rating was awarded in November by the EA.
The vastly improved status was given after 20 samples of water were tested between May and September this year, the peak bathing season.
The Boxing Day Dip is organised by Deal Icebreakers, a group run by The Rotary Club of Deal.
Many of the participants take part in fancy dress, watched by about 2,000 spectators, and the event raises about £7,000 for charity.
Apart from this year and last, the event is only known to have been cancelled a couple of times before – once in the 1980s because of stormy weather and again in 2020 during the Covid pandemic.
