KEY POINTS:
Given the less-than-clement conditions, it wasn't surprising that this year's mid-winter swim in Auckland pulled fewer punters than usual.
About 40 people took the plunge at Mission Bay yesterday, having turned up in the pouring rain and icy sea breeze.
But only moments before the swimmers took to the water, the wind dropped away to nothing and the sun came out.
As a supporter looking down the lens of a camera optimistically put it: "It looks just like a summer day."
But appearances can be deceiving, and it wouldn't have felt like a summer day as the temperature struggled up to a fresh 11C.
Englishman Will Gray jumped up and down on the spot to keep warm before taking a dip after being dared by his wife to take the plunge - but he claimed he was used to cold swims.
"Every swim is a mid-winter swim in England."
Two Ponsonby flatmates, Hannah Watson and Mirren Fredrickson, also turned up despite the rest of their flatmates staying in bed.
"It was meant to be a flat outing, but the rest bailed," said Miss Fredrickson.
For others it was just an extension of a big night.
Mantis Jacobs and his mates had been up until the small hours after watching the rugby and then enjoying the Viaduct nightlife until 5am.
Mr Jacobs had already planned the swim with his friends who lived at Mission Bay, and said he found it an apt conclusion to waterfront frolics.
