It all started with a bet. Fifteen years ago, while having a pint at the Plough and Anchor pub, Anton Buttigieg was challenged to take a dip in the cold December sea.

“Everyone in the pub chipped in Lm2 (€4.65) and the pub owner doubled the amount collected,” Mr Buttigieg, 58, said.

He braved the biting cold, jumped in the unwelcome 16˚C, grey, choppy sea and won the bet. The money was donated to charity.

It has been one encore after the other since then and 15 years on the Thomas Smith Charity event has become an annual appointment for those brave enough to strip down to their bathing suits. This year the charity swim will be held on Sunday.

“There is no need to linger, jumping off the pier into the sea and getting wet is enough,” Mr Buttigieg said.

The swimmers are then given a tot of whisky to warm them up and President George Abela will hand in commemorative medals.

As the ‘founder’ of the swim, Mr Buttigieg has never missed a beat and is pretty much the brains behind the planning, promotion and coordination on the day.

“Over the years we have had various ‘weather conditions’ to contend with but so far we have never cancelled the swim.” But in any case, civil protection personnel are at hand to make sure everyone is safe.

More than 250 swimmers took part last year, raising €10,000, which includes a top-up donation from the Thomas Smith Group.

There’s no need to linger, jumping in is enough

The meeting place this year is still the same one as that of 15 years ago: off the pier in front of the Plough and Anchor pub in Sliema.

A fisherman on the pier yesterday had good tidings: the weather is expected to be fine on the day – you might get a suntan.

Registration starts at 9.30am. More details on http://tcsmith.com or phone 2205 8058 or http://facebook.com/events/512982602059619/ .