Swim sunk

PORTISHEAD'S traditional Long Swim has been scrapped because of rising insurance costs.The 1.25 mile swim has been running for over 70 years from Battery Point to the sailing club HQ at Sugar Loaf Point and used to attract dippers from across the area. But this year, insurance for the event has become so costly, it cannot go ahead.Vervia Adamson, who organised the swim for 15 years, says she is sad to see the dash across the water finally sink.Mrs Adamson said: "The insurance costs for the swim have become so high, it is just not viable any longer."The last time I organised the event we were quoted £250 then for insurance and I believe that figure went up following that."It is a real shame as people which took part really enjoyed the event."The last swim took place in 2004 and was organised by the Portishead Lifeboat Trust's chairman Colin Wilson.But the trust can no longer take on the event because of the commitments of running the lifeboat and raising money for a new lifeboat station. The first long swim was in 1924 and in 1999 the event attracted a record 44 swimmers to celebrate the annual dip's 75th anniversary.Mrs Adamson said: "Because of the nature of the race, people just turn up on the day and we don't know if they can only swim 25 yards or could do the channel."In this day and age and the risk of people suing for compensation, the insurance costs would have been astronomical.