Due to appear in the Bournemouth Rock Feb 16.
There I stand, nude or very-nearly nude. There before a poolside littered with de-clothed men and women. Just a pair of colourful, dinosaur-print boxers separating me from the world of naturism. Quaking, my quickening heartbeat questions my courage. Can I really do this? Throw all inhibitions aside, take the leap of faith and drop my draws? Joshua Saunders tries not to balls-up his infiltration of Bournemouth’s hidden world of naturism.
Now I’d never consider myself to be the overly exhibitionist type; excluding the natural, naked-dash from the bathroom gone wrong resulting in mooning my brother’s girlfriend. A causal clothes-less sprint around a bar, and a mankini malfunction similar to Simon, from the Inbetweeners, that led him to catwalk calamity. Okay, so it’s fair to say I’m not a complete stranger to bearing all but never with swimming, and never with real-life naturists.
Unknown to many, Bournemouth isn’t as estranged from naturism as you’d imagine. The area boasts Studland nude beach, one of the most popular sites in the UK and just under ten miles away. But to your average person, in my case my housemates the idea of baring all in front a group of strangers was hilarious enough to send them into a frenzy of laughter, giggles and leaving one unable to look at me seriously for several minutes.
But what is the fear surrounding the act of living uncovered? I mean you never heard Adam and Eve blushing or making immature penis jokes. Technically speaking, being stripped of clothes should be one of the most natural things of all – we are after all human and so could hazard a reasonable guess as to what lies beneath the average pair of trousers and top. But more often than not, naturism suffers the stigmatic stereotype of being a guise for dirty old perverts or randy teenagers eager for a gaze upon naked-flesh.
A blanket of nerves smothers me as I leave the taxi that has delivered me just outside the location for our swim. The biting chill of the winter’s evening hits my face as I approach the hidden hotel, the Rothesay in Highcliffe. Its warm, rustic apparel seems an unusual setting for a nudists’ meet. Although for now it’s a relief to remember we aren’t nakedly dipping into the sea!
Upon entree I’m greeted by dressed David (who wished for his surname to remain anonymous) organiser of the Nude Swim events. He extends his hand and shakes firmly, reawakening the ever-worrying reality that soon I will be naked in front of many, many strangers. Friendly and surprisingly young, 23, he tells me that his initial motivation to set up the group was to increase the amount of activities for like-minded people. “I want to have another option of what I can do as a naturist and make new friends in the process.” Having been a naturist for nearly five-years his appreciation of the lifestyle comes from the 'isolation' and 'the escape from everyday stresses in modern life and smart phones'.
I am the last over just over 15 people attending tonight and was hastily directed to the private pool section. As I leave I overhear the receptionist say that there are not that many guests stopping, and furthermore those who are, have been made aware and placed in rooms that would prevent them from seeing.
The door is shut behind me and now it’s the moment that matters, the swan song of the show. Baby blue walls tiled with seahorses and fish greet me, along with several long panel shaped windows, one of which is covered with what looks like a seasoned artist’s dust cover. Stripped down to just underwear, my level of comfort is shown by my frozen inability to take them off. Last minute doubts plague my mind, and uncharacteristically I begin to tremor. Can I do this?
“Just do it,” calls an undressed David from the pool. And casting aside all hesitation I thrust down last layer of clothing. Embarrassment was my initial feeling. Wondering why the heck I’d shed off my clothes in front of complete strangers! Again!
Briskly I scramble towards the pool, trying to divert as little attention towards me, and more importantly my naked body, as possible. Lowering into the pool of bodies floating around, conversing, laughing, they are unfazed by the undeniable fact that they are all naked. ‘Try swimming’ one man encourages, not knowing what to do I oblige. As the water ripples beside me an unusually weird feeling of liberation and elation sweeps through as me and my little big friend brave the waves. And in that moment of novel bliss I understood the calling to swim naked.
As the session carries on more and more people form a semi-circle in the water, all sharing experiences from their out of the ‘ordinary’ lifestyle. One person tells of him forgetfully opening the door in the nude to a plumber. And after an embarrassing scurry up the stairs, to gather clothes he later noticed the man was a secret naturist too and was fixing nakedly. Another jokes to his unknowing neighbours that he sunbathes in the nude, little do they know he actually does!
While the night slowly draws closer to an end the issue of being without clothing seems less prominent. The once glaringly obvious shame of being bare disapparates (sic) and the community I’ve thrust myself into feels more like a close-knit family. A gathering of people who like to be naked and just take pleasure from returning back to our natural form. No sordid antics or salacious sauna scenes just a bunch of friends like any other.
The realisation of my actions only hit recently, ironically as I bathed in the shower. I have paddled around naked for the whole room of eyes to see. Carelessly chatted whilst drifting on the water bare, albeit with doubts and primarily fear, but in an uttermost moment of spontaneity the comfort of nudity embraced me. Freedom.
While I can’t guarantee for now that I’ll be convert to life without the constraints of clothing (only for the sake of the public), I certainly wouldn’t rule out more nude swimming in the future. Perhaps I’ll see you there...
To find more information about Bournemouth’s Nude Swim events visit www.nudeswim.wordpress.com or email contact@nudeswim.co.uk
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