Jeff Atkins, left, holds the bull horn while event official Bruce Doneff leads the faithful in a kazoo rendition of “America The Beautiful” to officially kick off the annual Pelican Plunge, sponsored by Friends of Hunting Island. About 1,500 “spectators and the insane” converged onto Hunting Island for the New Year’s Day event, according to Doneff. He said the Friends of Hunting Island hope to raise about $5,000 this year for the Discover Carolina program. Photos by Bob Sofaly. 