Dark Mofo 2019: Hundreds go nude for the annual solstice swim

A record number of daring souls have descended on Long Beach in Sandy Bay for the annual nude solstice swim. SEE THE PICTURES AND VIDEO

THE air temperature was a frosty five degrees, but that hasn’t stopped a record number of brave souls baring all in Hobart.

Hundreds converged on Sandy Bay for the annual Dark Mofo nude solstice swim this morning.

About 2200 people had signed up beforehand to take part in the event, with around 1900 sticking to their guns and showing up for the icy dip.

Dark Mofo Nude Solstice Swim

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At the 18 plus event, the oldest participant was 91-year-old Joy Walter from St Helens.

Some took the opportunity to write slogans on their backs and as the flare gun went off at 7.42am, the beach and sea was awash with a multitude of bare flesh.

Some patrons made a beeline for the pontoon and made the most of their swim while others only quickly jumped in before rugging up again.

Cheers went up as a couple from Mount Isa, Queensland got married on the beach leading up to sunrise.

First time nude swimmer Tayla Serhaggia, 27, of Hobart joined her friends, twin sisters, Lucy and Emma Lake, both 31, also of Hobart.

“It’s not too often you’re nude in front of 2000 people,” Ms Serhaggia said.

“Everyone is the same — no one is body shaming or feeling body conscious.”

The trio had “no cable car” and “keep Tassie wild” written in red lipstick on their backs.

“We thought it was a good opportunity to get the message out there that there’s a lot of locals out there who don’t support it [the cable car],” Ms Lake said.

But not everyone was on board with their stunt.

“The political messages are disappointing — that’s not what this event is about and I’ve never seen that here before,” Sam Van der Wijngaart of Launceston said.

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Enjoying her fourth dip, Ms Van der Wijngaart said the event was always well run, but changes could be considered.

“It’s fantastic — it’s the only time you can be legally nude in Tasmania because we don’t have any nude beaches,” she said.

“But I actually think it’s time they put a price on it because people I know who have been coming for years and years missed out this year because you had to book and people go ‘that’s something I might do’ and they take up a place. Maybe just $5 or $10 to make it a commitment and then only people who really want to be here have a ticket.”

Nude swim veteran Andrew Dummett disagreed with the idea of introducing paid ticketing.

“That would spoil it — but the people who didn’t turn up, I hope they feel guilty for at least 12 months,” he said.

“The air temperature is pretty good today and it’s not windy or frosty, but the water is still f...ing cold.

“Where else in the world can you do something silly with a pile of people for free and it’s fun and it doesn’t make sense. It’s the way life should be.”

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