A record number of hardy souls braved the icy waters of the Tay to take part in the traditional New Year’s Day Dook at Broughty Ferry.
The event drew entrants from as far afield as Canada and Cuba and the 128th Dook proved so popular that organisers Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Society ran out of entry forms before the scheduled 10am start.
The plunge into the Tay began earlier than normal because of tide levels but that did not deter either the 308 swimmers taking part or the 2,000 spectators who lined up along the quayside to watch the spectacle.
Normally, The Dook takes place around midday but with high tide at just after eight in the morning, the water levels would have been too low in the harbour.
Chief ancient Joyce McIntosh said she was staggered by how popular The Dook has become.
She said: ”We ran out of registration forms so will just have to send them out to people later. We had to start at 10 in the morning but we’ve got people from Cuba and Canada taking part it’s a really good turnout for 10 o’clock.
”I would say there must be at least 2,000 people who have come down to watch as well.”
Dundee Lord Provost John Letford started this year’s Dook although no swimmer took up his offer that their £10 entry fee would be refunded if they stayed in the water for 20 minutes.
He said: ”It’s really impressive that so many people are taking part and it is fantastic the way they get such great support.”
The Phibbies have been organising The Dook for more than a century and the event has never been cancelled because of the weather, no matter how awful.
In 1989, the Tay had partially frozen over and had to be broken with a sledgehammer before swimmers could enter the water.
This year conditions was less extreme but still posed a challenge for swimmers, many of whom took to the water in fancy dress.
Friends Paul Grogan and Scott McRitchie (both 21) challenged each other in a bet to take part in the Dook for the first time.
Both men opted to take the plunge in superhero fancy dress with Paul donning a Spider-Man costume and Scott borrowing Bananaman’s outfit for the occasion.
”We did it for a bet and it was absolutely freezing,” said Paul. ”It was the first year that I’ve done it but I think it will be the first of many.”
The Phibbies were granted charitable status in 2008 and require around £20,000 a year to run. All of the money from entry fees for the Dook will be used to support the club and help coaching the next generation of open water swimmers.
However, sponsorship money raised by individuals goes to their own designated charities, raising tens of thousands of pounds for good causes each year.
Former Dundee United midfielder Dave Bowman who is now the Tannadice club’s community coach took part in the Dook for the second year in succession.
”I don’t know if I would say it was habit forming,” he said after making it back to dry land. ”I did it last year and this year I’m raising money for skin cancer. A lot of the lads have sponsored me so it’s been quite a good way to raise money.”
The first New Year’s Day Dook took place in 1889 and has taken place every year since, apart from during the Second World War.Click here for a full photo gallery