As Claire says in the book, I really did have an epiphany, wondering how on earth I’d lived by this whole other element for over a decade and never taken any notice of the tide times, or the currents. I started swimming regularly and quickly found a new tribe of plucky bobble-hatted, Dryrobe wearing, tea-drinking super-women (and men) and together we took the plunge in the rain, snow, frost and sun, at dawn, at sunset. I soon became an addict for the cold-water hit and the sense of camaraderie.

The sea-swimming community in Brighton and all along this bit of coast has expanded massively thanks mostly to Cath and Kath who run Seabirds Social Enterprise – a shop and seasonal swim school that champions sea swimming as a way to be happier and healthier, so I’d like to give a big shout out to them, for their incredible achievement and starting the ever-growing Salty Seabirds Facebook group of which we’re all proud members.

I’d also like to thank the inspirational Jo Godden from Rubymoon for her sustainable and ethical swimwear and also for organising the Full Moon swims. I’d also like to thank Lorelei Mathias, one of my fellow swimmers for her writing support and to everyone involved with The South Coast Sirens – a group we set up to try and tackle the water pollution issue. I also like to give a huge shout out to the team at the Lifeguards office in Brighton. I’d also really like to thank the amazing folk at Knight (knightsupport.org.uk) a wonderful charity making a huge difference to the homeless and rough sleepers in Brighton.

I’d really like to thank my own swimming gangs to whom this book is fondly dedicated – The West Pier/Bandstand Saltys and The Splash and Bobbers and The Brunswick Bathing Beauties, especially Katy Whelan for weathering over thirty years of friendship. I’d also like to thank Sophie for her beautiful Lunar Tidal Calendar, Sheelagh for her swimming lessons, Tara for her invaluable insight into Homelessness, Alice for always adding a touch of glamour, Anita for being the life and soul, as well as Helen and Michael, JP and Thiago (and Walt, of course) and the lovely Steph. Plus a big thanks to Michaelino for the intel on the Samaritans.

As well as writing about community, I really like writing about female friendship and I’m lucky enough to have a tribe of women in my life who mean the world to me. I’d really like to thank Bronwin Wheatley and Eve Tomlinson, along with Shân Lancaster and Louise Dumas, my ever-supportive early readers. A big thank you to ever-supportive Harriet Rees and also to Dawn Howarth, who has held my hand now through all my books – this being my twentieth novel. Thank you, too, to Dinah, Clare-Bear, Ruth and Orshi. Thanks too, to Lesley Thomas as well as Alice from Posh Totty Designs, Jenny Dunn for her wonderful yoga lessons and Jo Darling for her acupuncture.

Lastly, thank you to my wonderful family for always keeping me afloat with your love and humour, especially my sister Catherine Lloyd – my fellow swimmer and Christmas Day dipper (I promise I will get you a more flattering swimming hat), Kirsti, Dad and Dianne, Aunty Liz and to my intrepid water babies, Tallulah, Roxie and Minty. Thank you to Ziggy, for standing guard on the shoreline and making sure I get back to dry land safely, where his best friend Frankie Knuckles is often to be found helpfully keeping my towel warm.