Thousands strip off for the 2022 Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim
WARNING - NSFW: Thousands have braved the cold – and modern societal norms- to jump into the Derwent stark naked for the annual Nude Solstice Swim. PHOTO GALLERY >>
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
More than 2000 people have braved the cold (and modern societal norms) to jump into the Derwent stark naked for the annual Nude Solstice Swim.
Sandy Bay’s Long Beach was a sea of bare bodies and red swimming caps as locals and hundreds of interstate visitors took to the water at sunrise on a clear but nippy Wednesday morning.
Groups of friends, clothing-optional swimming clubs, and even family units converged to celebrate the first sunrise after the winter solstice.
Some beachgoers were bemused at 7am when enthusiastic jackhammer works began at a residential development on the point, but Dark Mofo organisers successfully negotiated for tools to be put down briefly to preserve the serenity of the occasion.
Andrea Bayliss, her daughter Molly Florence and sister Catherine Barrett travelled from Victoria to tick the Dark Mofo swim off their bucket list.
“It’s just a really nice atmosphere, it’s nice going with a big bunch of people - normally I just go in the water on my own but this is more of a community feel,” Ms Barrett said.
“It felt like a bit of a cult actually,” she joked.
The trio said they had held “training sessions” at Phillip Island to prepare for the icy dip.
“I couldn’t stop laughing when it was just the gong noises and the red smoke and all the red hats running into the water,” Ms Florence said.
“Just abandoning everything and running in, everyone was so happy, it was fantastic,” Ms Bayliss said, after being one of the hardy swimmers who made it to the pontoon.
“I wish I had a camera out there with me - looking back over, you go the view of everyone still coming in but you could also see Mt Wellington with the snow on top, it was such a gorgeous view,” she said.
“I did do a belly-whacker diving into the water. You don’t want to do that naked let me tell you, things hurt!”
Swimmers charged off to the water after the 7.42am starting gun sounded and orange flares were set off on the sand.
Most were out of the water again in a matter of seconds but around 50 people made the freezing journey to the pontoon about 100 metres out.
Susan Molyneux and Kathy Saunders, experienced solstice swimmers who were with a group of five friends, said the high tide meant the build up was a bit different this year.
“It’s usually a fair sprint to get out there but this time we’ll be basically straight in,” Ms Molyneux said before the swim.
“It’s such an amazing event … it doesn’t actually (get easier) each year but nothing beats the adrenaline and the feeling of a hot coffee afterwards,” she said.
Ms Saunders said body positivity was one of the strongest messages from the swim.
“It’s great to be together with our friends for this and comfortable in just our bodies,” she said.
Originally published as Thousands strip off for the 2022 Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim
REPLAYS: Demons deliver miracle three-peat, SFLW Div 1, Div 2 GFs
A goal in the final minute has delivered North Hobart a stunning premiership three-peat and left Kingborough devastated after appearing all but home. Full Division 1&2 REPLAYS.
No place like home for Ernie: rare insight into wedge-tailed eagles
Ernie took four times longer than usual to leave his nest as a fledgling, which has provided Tassie researchers a rare insight into the notoriously shy wedge-tailed eagle. Watch here >>