Organisers insist the traditional New Year’s Day dook at Broughty Ferry harbour is not in doubt despite the harbour resembling “the Antarctic.”
Joyce Mackintosh, of Ye Amphibious Ancients Bathing Association, said the event will definitely go ahead, although she issued an appeal for volunteers to help clear the harbour area of hard-packed ice and snow to ensure it passes off safely.
The event organisers will be there from noon today to begin the task of removing tonnes of ice from the pier and jetty, Joyce said.
“The dook is not in any doubt at all it never is,” she said. “The ice is floating about in the harbour and we’ll put enough boats out to clear the harbour for the dook.
“The real problem is all the hard-packed snow and ice on the slipway and round the harbour. I was down there this morning and it’s like the Antarctic there big chunks of ice floating about.
“It’s just so hard and we’re looking for as many volunteers as possible to come along with their spades and help us clear it.
“I can’t see the council getting the pavements cleared by then so we’re trying to get as much done as possible before everybody goes back to work on Wednesday.
“Over 3000 people came down last year to spectate. It was incredible really, considering there is no public transport.
“So we want to make sure the event goes off safely. It’s definitely happening and I’m anticipating this will be a really busy week for entries.”