Winter swimming down under

Winter swimming down under

Sydney, Australia and
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Sydney, a city of sand, surf and bronzed lifesavers is less known for its fraternity of winter swimmers, who brave the colder temperatures to dive, nearly naked, into the ocean rock pools scattered around the iconic coastline.

Clubs like the Clovelly Eskimo's, Coogee Penguin's, Maroubra Seals and Coogee Huskies hug the eastern shoreline every Sunday morning with the common catch phrase 'fun and friendship'.

. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

"The friendship keeps you warm," Glen Sewell, a member of the Maroubra Seals Winter Swimming club, said.

Sewell hasn't missed a swim with the club for 32 years, earning him the prestigious recognition for 100 percent attendance every year.

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Over 5,000 swimmers compete weekly, observing the 'no wet suits' rule. The water temperatures in Sydney drop to about 15 Celsius (59 Fahrenheit) in August when it's more likely to be warmer in the water than out.

. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Broad shoulders, tanned, healthy men and women depicts the image of Australian Olympic swimming legends but the pressures of sponsorship and body image is less important for the winter amateurs where beer bellies are not an uncommon sight.

. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

The Huskies, motto is, "eight seconds in the drink, eight hours on it!"

Winning is the goal, but not all swimmers can be successful.

. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Eighty-four-year old Rata Hing has been a member of the Coogee Penguins for 40 years. Hing said she only learned to swim after she retired.

"I'm not a champion swimmer but it's healthy and quite invigorating. It stimulates the blood circulation which I need," said Hing.

. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Joy Marsden, 73, has been swimming with Clovelly Eskimos for 12 years, she is the oldest female swimmer in the club and is recovering from a knee reconstruction. Her claim to fame is her age is the same as her weight.

. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

While camaraderie and laughter are two of the key ingredients, it is not a sport for the faint hearted.

As storms destroyed buildings and eight metre waves ravaged the eastern coastline last month, members of the Eskimos bravely took on mother nature in the relative safety of their protected bay.

. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Handicap races were ditched for 'luck of the draw' starts as contestants selected a playing card and jumped into the water as their number was called.

Safety is paramount and casualties few.

. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Most members agree, though, the hardest thing about winter swimming is getting out of bed when on a wet and windy day, but the spirit of friendship makes it a worthwhile outing.

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Slideshow

Members of the Clovelly Eskimos listen for their names to be called before the start of a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Members of the Clovelly Eskimos listen for their names to be called before the start of a race.

Members of the Clovelly Eskimos stand together before the start of a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Members of the Clovelly Eskimos stand together before the start of a race.

Members of the Clovelly Eskimos huddle together before the start of a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Members of the Clovelly Eskimos huddle together before the start of a race.

Members of the Clovelly Eskimos dive into the water at the start of a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Members of the Clovelly Eskimos dive into the water at the start of a race.

Members of the Clovelly Eskimos swim in the rough seas during a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Members of the Clovelly Eskimos swim in the rough seas during a race.

Terry Chisolm, a member of the Clovelly Eskimos, holds onto a rail as he gets out of the water after completing a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Terry Chisolm, a member of the Clovelly Eskimos, holds onto a rail as he gets out of the water after completing a race.

Terry Chisolm, a member of the Clovelly Eskimos, dries himself with a towel after completing a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Terry Chisolm, a member of the Clovelly Eskimos, dries himself with a towel after completing a race.

'Big' Dave, a member of the Coogee Penguins, waits for his fellow competitors before the start of a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

'Big' Dave, a member of the Coogee Penguins, waits for his fellow competitors before the start of a race.

A member of the Coogee Penguins dives into a rock pool at the start of a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

A member of the Coogee Penguins dives into a rock pool at the start of a race.

A box holding the timing devices for the races involving members of the Maroubra Winter Seals, sits on the side of a rock pool.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

A box holding the timing devices for the races involving members of the Maroubra Winter Seals, sits on the side of a rock pool.

A member of the Maroubra Winter Seals prepares to dive into a rock pool at the start of a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

A member of the Maroubra Winter Seals prepares to dive into a rock pool at the start of a race.

Members of the Maroubra Winter Seals stand together as they prepare to dive into a rock pool at the start of a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Members of the Maroubra Winter Seals stand together as they prepare to dive into a rock pool at the start of a race.

A member of the Maroubra Winter Seals dives into a rock pool as his fellow competitors prepare to follow during a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

A member of the Maroubra Winter Seals dives into a rock pool as his fellow competitors prepare to follow during a race.

A member of the Maroubra Winter Seals stands under a shower after competing in a race.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

A member of the Maroubra Winter Seals stands under a shower after competing in a race.

Members of the Maroubra Winter Seals drink beer and hot soup in their clubhouse after competing in races.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

Members of the Maroubra Winter Seals drink beer and hot soup in their clubhouse after competing in races.

A sign is displayed underneath a soup container inside the clubhouse of the Maroubra Winter Seals swimming club.
. Sydney, Australia. Reuters/David Gray

A sign is displayed underneath a soup container inside the clubhouse of the Maroubra Winter Seals swimming club.

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