THE boat hadn’t even moved 6ft from the dock when the shout to strip off went up – within seconds all 120 passengers were completely starkers.
I had just hopped on board for the 13th annual “Nude Cruise” – a three-hour, bare-all boat trip to celebrate naturism – and already it was NOTHING like I’d imagined…
Neil HopeTanis and Kevin Little were among 120 naturists who stripped off for the naked cruise along the River Exe[/caption]
Neil HopeThe trip, organised by Bare West Events, has been an annual fixture for 13 years[/caption]
Neil HopeThe Sun was invited on the trip[/caption]
As the double-decker ship meandered along the River Exe estuary in Devon, dozens of smaller pleasure boats sail alongside us, their passengers cheering us on – and some of them even stripping off, too.
Considering the wall-to-wall nudity involved, organisers were keen to emphasise from the outset that they are not swingers – and anybody caught trying to act inappropriately would be banned for life.
This has to be a safe environment because you can feel quite vulnerable when you haven’t got your clothes on
Organiser Rachel Wick
Rachel Wick, 50, a local authority administrator who has organised the annual boat trip alongside her partner Nigel since 2012, said: “It’s really sad that a large percentage of the population equate being naked only with sex – it’s not.
“If they came to our event, they would see it’s clearly not what it’s about.
“If somebody misbehaves, they will be on our banned list. Not that it’s ever happened but we’re always mindful that this has to be a safe environment because you can feel quite vulnerable when you haven’t got your clothes on.
“One of the things I love about it is you can’t tell from looking at all of us whether we are rich or poor, working or retired. When you can’t judge people’s status, we’re all on a level.
“People think you have to be beautiful but we’re all normal people of different shapes and sizes.”
Nigel said the group regularly organises nude events at a variety of venues, and businesses are always happy to accept the “buff pound” because guests are respectful and unlikely to go elsewhere to eat and drink.
He added: “The nudist world is a real mix of people, from prison officers to barristers and doctors.
“It is the sense of freedom and being relaxed in your own body that draws people in. It’s a very friendly environment.
“If we go to a hotel, people generally don’t go out, they stay all day.
“We have never had any trouble at any event. It’s an older group and if anybody started a fight, they’re likely going to break a hip.”
What struck me most about the trip was how remarkably normal it all was – apart from the obvious naked elephant in the room, this could have been any other boat trip organised by a local village church group.
Upstairs, the nude guests – many of whom were pensioners – mingled and chatted while one volunteer sold raffle tickets.
Downstairs, the naked disco was in full swing with some patrons shimmying to Dancing in the Dark by Bruce Springsteen while others lined up for the cash-only bar – with some sporting special pouches to carry their bank notes and phones.
The £22 cruise ticket also included a free hot pasty, for those brave enough to risk spillages!
My employer and child would be shocked if they knew
Dee from Plymouth
Members believe events like this are becoming more popular as Brits slowly relax their uptight attitudes towards nudity.
An Ipsos poll found 14% of those surveyed identify as naturists or nudists while a BBC report suggests there are 6.7 million naturists in the UK.
Organiser Rachel Whick waves at passing yachtsNeil Hope
A naked cruise goer grabs a drink on deckNeil Hope
Neil HopeSome members said they had to keep their naturalism secret for fear of judgement[/caption]
However, another poll for YouGov found four in 10 (59%) said they felt uncomfortable with being naked, with women being more likely to feel that way than men.
Some guests said they couldn’t speak openly about naturism, believing their bosses would take a dim view if they found out.
Dee, from Plymouth, said: “My employer and child would be shocked if they knew I was doing this.
“For some reason, a lot of people for some reason associate what we do with swinging but it doesn’t mean that.
“It’s just people wanting to take their clothes off and enjoying the freedom, nothing else.”
Another passenger – who declined to be interviewed – explained: “Half of my family don’t know I’m a nudist.”
At the turnaround point, the skipper steered the boat past the pubs and restaurants in Topsham, much to the delight of hundreds of waiting punters who had gathered – some in fancy dress and others wearing very little – to cheer on the naturists.
I feel people who are naturists should be allowed to express themselves and should have a space to do it. Events like this allow that
Martin Niebroj
Mark Carroll, who has been a lifetime naturist, explained how he recently introduced his partner Claire Stone to the community.
Claire said: “I love it. I do a lot of naturist beaches but this is the first time I have done a community event.
“Times are changing – it’s becoming more popular but the younger generation are still quite prudish.
“My teenager asked where I was going tonight. I said, ‘A naked cruise,’ and he just replied, ‘Ok then’ but didn’t want to ask any further questions.”
Mark added: “People are more relaxed than they were, our generation is more comfortable with it all.
“The more people hear about it, the more they want to get involved.”
‘Many Brits are too repressed’
Kevin Little, 61, from North Dorset, who has been a naturist since 1997, revealed he saves a fortune not having to pay for extra luggage on flights.
He said: “It’s quite addictive. I love being on a beach and just connecting with nature.
“When we go on holiday, we can get on a flight with no luggage – we can take a little rucksack for a month.
“We get frustrated by the cliched, seaside-postcard, t*ts-and-willy jokes but it’s been that way for so long, it’s hard to get away from.
“A lot of people tell me: ‘I wish I could do that’… Well, you can. But people are very body conscious, although nobody cares.”
His wife Tanis, 61, said: “One of my sons is always trying to get his friends to do naked runs – he’s tried to get younger people involved.”
One of the few under 40s onboard was Martin Niebroj, 39, who revealed he finds nudity freeing but admits it can be problematic in less organised settings.
He said: “I really like the social part of it. Technically it’s not illegal to be naked in public in Britian, but it always causes a lot of interest.
“I feel people who are naturists should be allowed to express themselves and should have a space to do it. Events like this allow that.”
Martin, originally from Czechia and now living in Exeter and working in marketing, said many Brits are too repressed about nudity.
He said: “If you go into a public sauna in England you always need to have swimwear. In continental Europe, people generally are more liberal.”
After three hours, the boat returned to the dock and the passengers dressed again… some more reluctantly than others.
Neil HopeThe trip set off from Exmouth[/caption]
Neil HopeA member waves at a passing boat[/caption]
Neil HopeLike-minded individuals enjoyed live music, some drink – and a pasty[/caption]
Neil HopeClaire Stone and Mark Carroll enjoy a drink on the water[/caption]
Neil HopeA passer-by takes a sneaky snap of the cruise[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
