In Loctudy, the siren bath is full

And if you want to eliminate after the holidays, why not an ice bath? They were a hundred courageous Sunday, December 26, braving the ripples of water at 11 degrees. Bathers aged 7 to 77, who came to participate in the traditional mermaids bath of Loctudy, south of Quimper. For some the dip was enough, others stayed for ten minutes. Everyone then enjoyed a mulled wine and hot chocolate offered by the Loctudy festival committee, organizer of the event.

The Christmas challenge

Some had come as a family, like Nicole: “ This is the Christmas challenge. We came from all over France and even from abroad! I come from Paris, my sister from Quimper, we also have people from Angers and then my daughter comes from Germany “. Besides, Carla, the girl, is having fun: ” I’m used to the cold so I’m almost too hot here (laughs). I’m playing smart there but the goal is just to do two to three breaststrokes, to be able to say that I did it and show the photos to my friends! », Smiles the young woman.
Next to Marianne is getting ready to go in the water, she too comes from far away: “ I usually bathe in Lake Geneva, I come from Geneva. I find it great as an animation, I will come back next year! », Launches the thirty-something.

Once out, Benjamin is acclaimed by his whole tribe, who came to encourage him: ” There is my brother, my sister-in-law, my daughter and I who bathed. The grandfather stayed dry with the little one on his shoulders “. If he seems delighted with the experience: “It refreshes! But it’s great fun to do that with the family. And now we’re happy to go have the mulled wine! “. His daughter Éloïse is not really of the same opinion: « She was super cold, it was horrible », Slips the 11-year-old girl bundled up in her towel.

Water at 11 degrees

All ages were in the water. Lucas and Arthur, 12 and 13, get out of the water quickly, the body reddened by the cold of the 11 small degrees displayed by the thermometer in the water. ” At the beginning it’s fine and then after that it stings and it burns “, start the first. “We’re all numb. We went to the belly, we could not more! », Confides the second.
A little further, in the mauve algae, Stéphane is patient on the shore. He came to encourage his wife who is participating in the mermaid bath for the second time ” I stop swimming in mid-August. There I am the coach. And then in addition I make a towel holder, it’s important! “,

We must play the game – Lucie, 27 years old

For some, the idea germinated during the Christmas dinner. Lucie and her friends challenged themselves: “ It’s good to have a bit of madness in life! We are among friends, we have fun. We must play the game “And Thomas to complete:” We’re going to go all of a sudden, don’t hesitate. We’re going to put our heads in it for sure! It’s the minimum The young man smiles, towel around his waist for the moment.
Esteban and Kristobal are the last to come out: “ She is good ! The goal was first in the water and last to go out “. Residents of Loctudy, they are used to winter bathing: “ It is better than last year. After there it is still anesthetized, the easier it is in the water! », Smile the two brothers, barely shivering.
The majority is formal: ” We will come back next year! “. The appointment is made!