A record year for Guernsey’s annual Castle Swim

More than 300 swimmers took part in the Guernsey Swimming Club’s annual Open Castle Swim, raising money for the Guernsey RNLI and the Guernsey Alzheimer’s Association.

The swim raised a total of £1,500.00, which will be split equally between the two charities.

Sunshine and calm conditions helped to attract new participants, with many enjoying the event for the first time.

For the first time in the swim’s history, the event was rerouted due to maintenance work making the Castle slipway out of action. Entering the water at the Slaughterhouse slipway, participants crossed Guernsey’s Havelet Bay, finishing their swim at the Horseshoe Pool at La Vallette. 

This is the fourth year the Louvre Group has supported the Guernsey Swimming Club’s event which is a Guernsey institution, attracting hundreds of swimmers of all ages.

Derek Baudains, Louvre Group CEO, handed out the medals to swimmers and said: “We were delighted to sponsor this year’s swim and I thoroughly enjoyed the fantastic atmosphere the event creates. We hope our Louvre hot chocolate helped swimmers warm up after their swim. I’m so pleased this year was a success helping to raise money for two important local charities.”

Jo Norman, Director of the Guernsey Swimming Club, said: “We’ve had another fantastic turnout this year with the weather on our side. As always, the atmosphere was great and we were delighted the event was such a success. We want to thank the kayakers, service boats and Louvre Group who have helped to make it a success and without whom the swim wouldn’t be able to go ahead.”