Bare all for charity skinny dip next month
UP TO 100 people are expected to bare all at Pembroke Bay next month for the island’s third edition of the Great British Skinny Dip.
Dippers are invited to download a sponsorship form or collect one in person from Trev’s Motors at L’Ancresse, and collect donations in support of this year’s supported charities, Pink Ladies and Male Uprising Guernsey.
Organiser Peter Leigh hoped this year’s dip – at 5pm on Sunday 10 September – would build on the success of the previous two years, where a combined total of about £8,000 was raised for charity.
‘We raised about £5,000 two years ago and about £3,000 last year. I’m hoping we can beat the £5,000 mark this year,’ he said.
Individuals who raise more than £200 will be placed into a draw to win a prize donated by Freedom Surf Shop.
Swimmers are asked to arrive clothed about half an hour before the event starts, with the prize draw taking place approximately five minutes before the dip.
Those participating are then expected to strip off and run into the sea together following a countdown.
Mr Leigh has been a keen naturist for most of his life, and said the camaraderie within the wider naturist community was of a friendly nature.
‘I went to an all-boys secondary school where you were still made to do swimming lessons even if you had forgotten your bathers, and that’s when I first got interested in naturism.
‘There are naturist resorts all over Europe where you can walk around anywhere naked, it’s a wonderful feeling.’
He added that people of various ages had traditionally taken part in the skinny dip, and encouraged people to embrace the feeling of swimming naked.
‘We had about 70 people last year but I’m hoping we will get close to 100 this year.
‘People should be accepting of their bodies and be comfortable in their own skin, the pressure on body image these days is crazy.’
