By Melissa Clarke: Today is the winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Thousands of people have braved the wintry conditions to have a swim to mark the midwinter milestone. But perhaps none braver than those at Hobart’s Dark Mofo Winter Festival, where the icy dip is done in the nude. Alexandra Humphries reports.
Alexandra Humphries: On the edge of Hobart’s River Derwent, as the sun rose on the shortest day of the year, 3,000 people shed their clothes and covered only by red swimming caps took the plunge in temperatures of just 7degrees outside and 12 degrees in the water. These women are defrosting after their swim, but they have no regrets.
Swimmer: Oh it’s invigorating. It’s a… You don’t do this every day. I mean, we all do swim regularly, but it’s a little different when the bathers are off. It’s very exciting. With, like, 3,000 people this year, it’s just such fun. And everybody just throws off their clothes and jumps in and there’s such excitement about it, which is lovely.
Alexandra Humphries: So what is it that can convince 3,000 people to get nude and immerse themselves in Hobart’s chilly River Derwent in the middle of winter?
Swimmer: Oh, I just love everything. The shock, the adrenaline, the excitement, the people, the camaraderie. Taking my clothes off. Getting warm. Yeah, it’s an amazing, amazing event.
Alexandra Humphries: Hobart woman Jen takes part most years.
Jen: I love the… ..the mass of people from all over in all different shapes and sizes doing something completely ridiculous in the cold on the beach at dawn in Hobart in the middle of winter.
Melissa Edwards: It’s a fun event. Our staff love doing it. It’s a pleasure more than anything else.
Alexandra Humphries: Melissa Edwards is the executive producer of Dark Mofo, the festival that runs Hobart’s nude solstice swim.
Melissa Edwards: There’s a moment where we brief all the participants on what’s about to happen. We invite them to… The drumming starts and we invite them to remove their clothes and be ready to enter the water. Flares are set off and everybody screams and yells and claps. And then they run. And some stay for a moment, some stay for very many minutes. This year, capacity’s been ramped up. We’re really so pleased to have welcomed more people to this event. Every year, our demand has exceeded our capacity, but this year, with the help of Surf Lifesaving TAS, we were able to expand to 3,000.
Alexandra Humphries: But if you think swimming in Hobart is cold, spare a thought for Antarctic expeditioners at Davis Station, who’ve braved water temperatures of minus two degrees and air temperatures well below that to join in the festivities.
Brett Barlee: Minus two doesn’t sound cold, but believe me, it is.
Alexandra Humphries: Brett Barlee was amongst those who jumped in.
Brett Barlee: It is such a shocking experience that you are just left absolutely speechless. I descended down the ladder and by the time I came back up, I had icicles on the thermals that I was wearing. But many people braved the water just in board shorts.
Alexandra Humphries: It’s a long-held tradition at Antarctic stations. Those on Macquarie Island have also done a solstice swim while people at Casey Station will wait until Sunday for the weather to warm up slightly. Those who do get in don’t stay for long.
Brett Barlee: I think I tapped out at about 15 seconds. We’re able to stay in the water for up to a minute. We’ve got the doctor on hand there. I’ve got to be honest with you, I didn’t see that many people sticking around for that long.
Alexandra Humphries: After the swim, it’s warm showers and steaming hot cups of coffee, a welcome tonic for those brave enough to take the plunge.
Melissa Clarke: Alexandra Humphries there.
