Swimmers take the plunge in Brighton Pier to Pier Race

Hundreds of people took part in the 85th Brighton Pier to Pier Race, with swimmers completing a kilometre route from the West Pier to the Palace Pier.

Participants sporting wetsuits and speedos waited patiently to start the swim at 11.30 this morning, which takes between 16 and 35 minutes to complete.

Among those taking part was brother-sister duo Emily and Edward Howard, who took to the sea in the event for the first time.

The pair had signed up for the race by mistake, instead intending to take part in the “experience” event for non-competitive swimmers.

Brother and sister Edward and Emily Howard took part in the Pier to Pier Race accidentally

Edward, from London, said: “We didn’t know, so accidentally we’re in the race and we’ve never done an open water swim like this before. I’m a bit nervous.”

Emily shared some of her brother’s nerves but also expressed excitement at taking part in the swim.

She said: “I live in Brighton, so I’ve been doing some sea swimming in the mornings.”

Also taking part was David Tucker, who was also competing in the race for the first time after recovering from Covid.

He said: “I’m not really aiming for a time after having Covid a couple of weeks ago. If I did it in 20 minutes, I would be happy.”

David Tucker was among the hundreds to take part in the Pier to Pier Race

Other swimmers also took part in the “experience” event, which saw dozens of swimmers take to the water in groups and complete the route.

Founded in 1860, the sea swimming section of Brighton Swimming club has been in daily operation save only for the Second World War, when the beaches were off limits, guarded, as they were, by defences.

While maintaining its sea swimming section throughout, the club encompassed pool swimming when public baths came into use at the end of the 19th century.

Hundreds took the plunge in the sea this morning

The pool based section constitutes one of the city’s largest youth clubs, while the sea section thrives at a time of enormous interest in open water swimming.

Competitive members of the club have gained honours up to and including international representation, and many over the years have completed solo channel swims.