The 3^rd annual Rebel Plunge open water swim took place on Sunday the 10^th of June as part of the Cork Harbour Festival. 294 brave souls entered the water at 5p.m. on Sunday evening with the Blackwater Triathlon Club providing no fewer than 10 swimmers on the day.  There was a great mix of swimmers taking part in the event, from hardened sea swimmers to relative novices. The youngest person swimming was only 12 years old. The Swim was 3.8km downstream from Port of Cork Buildings on Custom House Quay to the Blackrock Boat Club. The Swim is along a spectator friendly course, with views from the Marina to the Finish. It was open to both Wetsuit and Skins (togs only) swimmers and the conditions could not have been better with an outgoing tide, warm clean water, and a gentle breeze assisting the swimmers down river. The sun even made an appearance at one stage, nudging the water temperature to a tropical 19°C in places. The first BTC member home was Julian Boeg in 43:34, for a highly credible 13th place overall in the Wetsuit Category. The next three swimmers were covered by just over a minute, with Jonathon Kenneally at 48:06, Frank Hallissey (in skins) at 48:42 and Aidan Sheridan at 49:11. Stephen Dalton was next home in a time of 50:50, improving on this 2017 time for this course by 8:49, surely the performance of the day from a BTC member. Christian Board was home in 52:32, closely followed by Niamh Fleming in 53:23, Adam Blaiklock in 56:09, Megan Carey (in her first event as a BTC Member) in 57:06 and Dave Mulcahy (also in Skins) in 57:26. Ever consistent, Dave finished 3 seconds faster than in last year’s event. The event was put together as part of the Cork Harbour Festival, and the team could not have done a better job. Ribs, kayaks, goody bags, tee shirts, hats, showers, food, changing rooms all pointed to a very well run event with any funds raised on the day going to the Cork Lions Club. Well done to the organisers and everyone who took part on the day. Definitely an event to mark down in the diary for 2019.