By Peter McDonald, president of the Sea Eels Winter Swimming Club

The Stanwell Park Sea Eels will be back for our 36th year of Winter Swimming starting Sunday, 5 May.

Our club is a family club open to all swimmers who can swim 50 metres unaided. We swim at the iconic Coalcliff pool from 9am every Sunday up until September.  Swims are 50m, 100m and a relay, all swims are handicapped and as competitive as you may wish your swim to be.

Following the swims we head back to Stanwell Park surf club for delicious soups and drinks if so desired and plenty of socialising. This is also where we raise funds for charity by means of fines, raffles and Joker Poker.

Our main charity is CRAM Foundation who provide a caring service to disabled adults and children. Last season we donated $3000. Other donations are also made to worthy causes locally.

Our club enjoys inter-club visits to Bulli Sea Lions and have the ladies from the Bondi Icebergs visit, we compete at the Invitational Carnival at Bondi, the South Coast and the Australian Championships, this year in Orange.

We welcome local residents, residents outside of the area and all surf club members. Joining the Sea Eels you become an “Associate Member” of the Helensburgh Stanwell Park surf club and covered by the surf lifesaving insurance. We are a family-friendly club who enjoy a cool swim and socialising.

Hope to see you on the blocks.