Now organisers hope it can become an annual event to rival the Boxing Day dip in Cromer.
Loony dookers revived the New Year's Day dip in Sheringham following an absence of almost a decade.
Several dozen first footers, many in fancy dress, took the plunge at the Tank Beach this morning (Sunday), while crowds of well-wishers lined the beach to show their support.
The hastily-arranged event was organised by local lifeboat helmsman Liam Cooper to raise money for Sheringham RNLI following the success of the Boxing Day dip in neighbouring Cromer.
And now, with better planning, organisers hope the Sheringham dook can become an annual event to match it.
Mr Cooper said: 'I suggested it in Cromer on Boxing Day just as a bit of a joke - shall we do one in Sheringham on New Year's Day? - and over the course of three or four days it has escalated and snowballed.
'I think it has been about 10 years since the last New Year's Day dip in Sheringham.'
But he added: 'The turnout has been pretty amazing, considering the weather as well, so we'll hopefully try again next year.'
To warm up for the dip, some of the fundraisers also took part in a special New Year's Day parkrun at Sheringham Park.
Local pub The Crown offered a free hot toddy to everyone taking part in the fundraiser.
Sheringham HM Coastguard team and Sheringham Lifeboat crew were also on standby at the event which raised over £300 for the RNLI.
Mandie Thorpe travelled from Dereham with a group of friends to take part after reading about it online. She described it as 'mental'.
'It was absolutely freezing,' she said. 'I can't feel my toes.
'We were stupidly reading about the Boxing Day event and one of us said: 'Oh let's do it on New Year's Day' so that's what we're here for.
'This was the first time we've done it, it is one off the bucketlist.' But she smiled: 'I'm never doing it again!'
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