Cold-water swimmers from across the country are gearing up for an exhilarating dip in the English Channel, breaking last year’s record of 500 swimmers to 1000 this year! Held on Saturday 8th March at Sea Lanes, Brighton and Sand Banks, Dorset.
In just two weeks since tickets were released, 1,000 women have signed up to take part in this extraordinary sea swim meaning the event is sold out!
● The Big Swim is the brainchild of Brighton-based adventurer Nicky Chisholm, known locally as ‘PinkNicky.’ Last year’s event saw 500 participants embrace the icy waters in Brighton, and for 2025, the event has doubled in size—joining forces with outdoor adventure expert Rosie Tanner of Land and Wave in Dorset.
● With 500 swimmers in Brighton and 100 miles west another 500 will be dipping in Dorset, this nationwide event is set to be an unforgettable tribute not to mention record breaking achievement, to the power of community, adventure, and female resilience. The perfect event to mark International Women’s Day.
● All Sea swimmers are welcome; everyone is uniting to celebrate the achievements of women worldwide and promote solidarity through their shared love for the sea.
● Surfers Against Sewage are the charity partners.
Giles Bristow SAS CE0 says:
“At SAS, we believe that everything we do should be driven by data and science. We seek to represent an accurate picture of the appalling state of our blue spaces and tell it like it is. Facing the facts can be shocking and upsetting. We are not exaggerating when we say our rivers are dying. They are – in front of our eyes. We hope for clean water on Saturday March 8th so that no one will be put off this momentous swim.”
The IWD sea swim is not exclusively for women; it welcomes everyone who supports the cause of gender equality. While the event is aimed at celebrating women, it recognises the vital role that allies play in advancing social, economic, cultural, and political equality. Embracing diversity, individuals of all backgrounds are invited to join and contribute to the collective efforts for women’s rights. This event will be one of thousands taking place across the world to celebrate IWD theme whose theme this year is #AccelerateAction.
