Exactly 200 hardy souls took the plunge at the biggest ever Boxing Day swim at Burghead.
A record crowd also converged on the Moray village yesterday to cheer as participants jumped into the North Sea and swam across the harbour.
This year’s charity event — the 28th since the tradition began — was especially poignant for some.
Burghead resident Helen Main, who is one of the event organisers, said her 11-year-old granddaughter Abbie was diagnosed with cancer last year and is currently in hospital in Glasgow.
Mrs Main said: “You do these things to raise money, never thinking you’ll be directly affected yourself, but it’s so nice to have so many people along today.
“The most swimmers we’ve ever had in the past was 142 four years ago.”
The main charity to benefit this year will be the ARCHIE Foundation appeal for the children’s ward at Dr Gray’s hospital in Elgin.
Two other causes linked with cancer, Clan in Elgin and Maggie’s Cancer Care in Inverness, will also receive donations.
In past years, organisers have had to clear the harbour of snow and ice, but there were no such worries yesterday with the sun shining.
Solicitor Martin O’Neill, 29, was persuaded by friends to take the plunge.
He said: “I’m absolutely freezing.
“I’m looking forward to getting back home and sitting in front of a warm fire to watch the football.”
Among the participants were people dressed as Roman legionnaires, superhero Batman and animals including penguins and a giraffe.
As the number of those leaping into the water reached 199, a call was made to the crowd for another volunteer.
Ross Davidson stepped forward to bring the total number of participants to a round 200.
Mr Davidson was one of the 10 original swimmers who took part in the inaugural event in 1985.
During the long history of the Burghead Boxing Day swim, more than £100,000 has been raised for dozens of charities across Moray.