Technically, they were a year earlier than most. But just barely.

A few dozen hearty souls decided to buck the New Year’s Day plunge trend Sunday, saying goodbye to 2023 by jumping in Buzzards Bay just after 10:30 a.m. on New Year’s Eve Day, a little more than 25 hours earlier than most New Year’s plunges.

“It’s more about washing out the old year than bringing in the new year,” said Westporter Jen Potter, chief operating officer of Little Compton's Gnome Surf, a surf therapy non-profit that along with the Buzzards Bay Coalition organized the morning splash.

“We decided we wanted to cleanse off 2023 and ring in the good vibes of 2024.”

They swam at a small sandy stretch opposite the coalition’s Humane Society Lifesaving Station at the west end of Each Beach Road. The effects of the storm one week before Christmas were still visible everywhere, with massive piles of rubble strewn about the small beach.

Cooper said there were some concerns that there was still metal and other debris in the water left over from the storm. So she bought 60 pounds of ice and Gnome Surf set up four ice water baths so those who didn’t want to risk the ocean could chill out on shore while still getting wet.

The swim was over in a few minutes and the jumpers quickly made their way to the station, where a toasty fireplace waited. Stuart Downie of the Buzzards Bay Coalition snagged a good seat in front of the fire, stretching out his toes a foot or so away from the flames.

“Ah, that’s the one,” he said.