According to The Beachcomber of July 20, 1972, it was one of the coldest Julys on record. We reported, “Baffin Bay temperatures, loads of people on the beach but none braving the snow-white surf. There was a water-chill factor calculated to put off the most enthusiastic of ocean swimmers.” But I think the report of frostbitten toes tended by Surf City lifeguards is probably tongue in cheek.