As usual, the first Sunday in January — this time 3 January 2016 — brings the traditional cold-water swimmers’ baptism. The event is open to swimmers and the public. New club members are baptised, while other members and visitors renew theirs each year by tradition. The ceremony has a long history: you can read how the Mladá fronta newspaper described it, and cold-water swimmers generally, in 1948. Afterwards, anyone interested can move to a nearby restaurant for a private launch of “The Bering Papers” by our member Jack Bright. Full details of both events follow.
Swimmers’ baptism details
When: Sunday 3 January 2016 at 10:30
Where: the Vltava channel beside the Kotva campsite in Prague-Braník (Nádraží Braník stop, trams 3 and 17)
Meeting point: I. PKO Praha clubhouse, U Kempinku 1801/2, Prague 4 (see map)
Organiser: I. plavecký klub otužilců Praha
Information: club chairman Tomáš Prokop, telephone 606 754 905, email: tomas-prokop@seznam.cz
Jack Bright’s book launch
When: Sunday 3 January 2016 at 12:30, or immediately after the swimmers’ baptism
Where: Restaurace Nádraží Braník (Nádraží Braník stop, trams 3 and 17)
Organiser: Jack Bright
Information: Jack Bright, telephone 605 888 544, email: jack.bright@live.co.uk
Programme: a short speech by Jack, a toast, screening of a new film about the Bering Strait, and discussion.
Paperback copies of Jack’s book will be available to buy.