EXHILARATING. Freezing. Amazing.
That is how Dark MOFO artistic director Leigh Carmichael described his festival's inaugural nude swim which took place at first light off Long Beach in Sandy Bay today.
Hundreds of hardy souls wearing nothing but red swimming caps took to the River Derwent for the event.
Approaching the beach en masse with a cheer that broke the dawn silence, the group discarded their white towels as orange flares signalled the beginning of the winter solstice celebration.
Then began a mad charge for the water, which at 12C was considerably warmer than the heavily frosted beach the swimmers left behind.
After three minutes it was all over, as swimmers waded back out of the water.
Some raced for towels, while others were content to huddle naked around the barrels of fire dotting the beach.
Keeping a close eye on proceedings were two police boats and a small flotilla of surf lifesavers on boards.
Safety concerns meant the nude swim was staged in two parts -- 150 swimmers at dawn, followed by another 50 half an hour later.
"I don't normally swim at all in the ocean, so that was pretty brave for me," Mr Carmichael said.
"The community spirit was amazing. I think we've had a community spirit the entire festival and this really finishes it off. I'm really happy.
"This was about embracing the cold and the winter, and just celebrating as a community this time the year and the solstice."
Hobart Lord Mayor Damon Thomas was one of the first into the water, which took place on the shortest day of the year.
"It was a fantastic community effort," a bare-chested Mr Thomas told the media.
"This is just Hobart. We've broken so many barriers this week. We've proven that people will start looking to come here for weekends, rather than the old idea of pushing people away.
"I'd go out again"
Finally, a small group of about 20 clothed swimmers took to the water for the "prude" swim.
Then it was straight back to a heated room for hot chocolate, hot water bottles and most importantly, clothes.
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