The air temperature was unseasonably mild, but the sea was as cold as ever as the dippers were joined by the area's top officer.

Cmdr Clive Smith, a clearance diver for the Royal Navy who oversees 63 sea cadet units from across the Eastern area, said he was used to cold water but did not normally go in without a wetsuit on.

He is normally based at Portsmouth, but is sent round the world to help clear explosive devices from the sea bed for civilian and other projects.

Explaining how he ended up in Filey for the New Year's Eve dip, he said: "It was a moment of weakness! I was inspecting the parade at the unit and afterwards two of the instructors were showing me their scrapbooks and there were all these pictures of people in the water. So foolishly I said if I'm available I'll come across and do it, and I'll award them their area certificate to make sure I turn up!"

The Filey unit was judged to have put on the best guard display in the eastern area in its annual inspection and the cadets were presented with a large shield before their dip.

Their leader, Lt Cmdr Eddie Temple, said he was "very proud" of them, both for winning the award and for turning out in such good numbers to take part in the swim.

Many of those taking part had done it on many occasions – including petty officer Luke Woods, who was there with first-timer petty officer Nicole Fletcher, who has recently joined the cadets. "The water's not as cold as the sand," she said.

Another participant, Filey town councillor Kerry Burton, took part in his first dip seven years ago when his eldest daughter Bethany dared him. Bethany, a former cadet, is now in the Royal Navy, having recently served in the Gulf.

His other two daughters are also thinking of joining the Navy when they leave school, and their dad is a big supporter of the Sea Cadets.

This year he is aiming to collect up to £200 in sponsorship for the unit from his swim. "The water temperature's not much different from the summer – it's the chill factor when you get out!" he said.

After his swim, former sea cadet Nick Ingham showed his mettle by not grabbing the first towel he could find and rushing back to the chalets. "It gets rid of the Christmas hangover," he said.

Like last year, there were plenty of spectators to cheer them on and make their contributions to the collecting buckets. Filey town crier David Bull – a former Air Cadet officer – and his wife Denise were also there to rally the troops.