Welcome to the newly convened Annual Runswick Bay Swim Challenge. The swim is open to other participants - give me a call if you'd like to take part - and is a 2 mile or 1 mile race from the jetty on Runswick Bay beach, across the one mile wide bay to a buoy anchored off Kettleness, and back. Those wishing to do the 1 mile swim will set off from a boat at the buoy and swim home. The challenge finishes with a short 'jog' up the steps to The Royal Hotel for a much needed pint and times to be recorded for posterity.

For me this has replaced the cancelled Great North Swim in Windermere and has provided the motivation to bring a new event to the local lifeboat's annual fundraising weekend. As this is year 1 there is an element of risk as the exact tidal flows within the bay are not charted - however, the Runswick Bay Rescue Boat (and safety kayaks) will marshall the course to ensure the safety of the swimmers.

Thank you to those who have already sponsored earlier in the year. Cheers, Tom.

22/6/12 - Great North Swim 2 mile waves cancelled due to extreme weather. Thank you to everyone who has sponsored - there will be a new swim challenge this summer. Any ideas?

The Runswick Bay Rescue Boat (RBRB) is an independent lifeboat that only exists because of the will of the community. Like all lifeboats around the coast, RBRB relies on charity donations ... and of course the generous volunteers who give up their time to maintain and crew the boat.

2012 is an exciting year for RBRB as the service is in the process of implementing a new pager system working on the emergency VHF channel zero. This is a costly project and requires funds over and above the lottery grant that was very gratefully received earlier this year. The new pager system will dramatically improve the crew's ability to respond quickly to distress calls ... and also their quality of life as all crew are currently required to be by their phone or in the boathouse on duty days. This is a selfless task that they carry out each week to make sure the local coastline is a safe place.

In difficult times it falls on the shoulders of communities and volunteers to dig a little deeper and work harder to keep these services alive. Any help you can give would be very gratefully appreciated.

As for me ... well, I just swim! This year, at 3pm on 22nd June, it's the opening race of the 2012 GNS 2 mile waves. It won't be a fast time but I'm hoping not to sink.