The roads were deserted on New Year’s Day, though not the beaches. Record crowds turned out for that day’s ocean plunges at East Hampton Village’s Main Beach and at Beach Lane in Wainscott, where Colin Mather, the Seafood Shop’s owner and arguably the first here to take a notion to jump into the ocean on Jan. 1, plunged for the 24th time.
The Ryans, John Sr. and Jr., who continue to work diligently toward their goal of “waterproofing” the town, ran the 1.6 miles to the beach from Mather’s shop on Route 27 in that inaugural year, and soon after went out on their own, plunge-wise, first at the Indian Wells Beach in Amagansett, and then, at the suggestion of Eddie McDonald, who made it a fund-raiser, at Main Beach in 2004.
John Jr., who oversees the town’s lifeguards, estimated that there were a little more than 600 plungers at Main Beach and probably 1,500 people there over all. “We ran out of hats, and we had 500 of them.” Of those who demurred, he said, “They don’t know what they’re missing. When you do it, you come out saying, ‘Wow!’ ”
Mather, a proselyte for cold showers, said recently that “after a cold shower or a New Year’s dip in the ocean, you do not need coffee – you’re set for the day.”
The Ryans, whose advice Mather had sought, helped him increase the Wainscott plunge’s attendance this year – and thus its proceeds, an estimated $5,000, which went to the Sag Harbor Food Pantry.
As for how much the East Hampton Food Pantry garnered from the Main Beach plunge, John Ryan Jr. said, “I don’t know the exact figure, but I heard it was somewhere around $35,000,” which was confirmed to be the case.
Around a dozen Ryan family members turned out for the Main Beach plunge, including the elder Ryan, who, at 88, may have been the eldest participant, though not all of the Ryans plunged. “My wife won’t even go in in the summer,” said John Jr.
Mather said he could not have been happier with the turnout of 150 to 200 plungers and at least as many spectators at Beach Lane – perhaps doubling last year’s turnout. It was exhilarating, he said, when he saw cars parked the length of that street as he and some fellow joggers who had set off from his shop at about 2 p.m. made the turn there.
Monday’s water temperature was 48 degrees, the air temperature was 41 – 15 degrees cooler than the shirt-sleeve weather that greeted 2023, but nevertheless pretty warm given the time of year. The surf was calm and the mood of the participants and attendees was uniformly buoyant.
Asked what her wish for the new year was, Melina Sarlo, who was in the company of some of her fellow girls indoor track teammates, Dylan Cashin, Ryleigh O’Donnell, and Sara O’Brien among them, said, “Good health . . . and time with my friends.”
When asked that question, Mather said, “A little less strife in the world and a little more peace.”
The village and town Police Departments and the East Hampton Volunteer Ocean Rescue squad were on hand to make sure things went smoothly. Mather, who donates Seafood Shop chowder to the Main Beach plunge each year, said he was grateful for their help.
About 30 or so took Mather up on his open invitation to come back to the Seafood Shop for “clam chowder, goodies from Goldberg’s, a Blue Duck cake, and some Molly’s Munchies cookies.”
“One thing I will say,” said John Ryan Jr., concerning the Main Beach event, “If you aren’t there early, you’re going to be late. The traffic was tough. If you don’t get to Main Beach by 12, you might end up parking at Town Pond.”
