Hundreds 'Wade' Into Water During Annual New Year's Day Plunge

Hundreds of people took the annual Barrington New Year’s Day “plunge” – let’s describe it as more of a “wade” during low tide – on Wednesday at noon. It continued a tradition at tiny Annawamscutt Beach started more than 30 years ago by the so-called Annawamscutt Seal Society. 

Sunny skies with temperatures in the low to mid-20s greeted participants who braved the Jan. 1 elements to test their endurance in Narragansett Bay. Most had to walk well out into the water to even think about taking a plunge during low tide. 

Some participants began gathering at the beach about 15 to 20 minutes before noon. Most showed up with a few minutes to spare, waded into the water and then headed for robes or towels or blankets on shore before making the walk back to their homes in the Drownville neighborhood of West Barrington or cars parked along the narrow streets.