Air temperature: 23 degrees
Real feel, including wind chill: 8 degrees
Water temperature: 46 degrees
Swimmers: About 200
The atmosphere was indeed festive, despite the wind that on occasion caused a bit of sand-blasting. Even on-lookers near the water got wet once the swimmers went in: Slightly higher waves pushed ashore as the tightly-packed crowd couldn’t move back fast enough.
Despite pockets of nakedness and liquid courage breath, there was still something of a family atmosphere as strollers and dog walkers were near the water’s edge to observe the madness.
Although the New Year’s Day is the highlight of the season, the Coney Island Polar Bears swim in the Atlantic Ocean every Sunday from November through April.
Video from the boardwalk about half an hour before the swim:
