There's going to be a GBSD event at the above venue on 21st July and given the glorious weather at present I'm thinking of attending. Has anyone attended before and if so, what is this venue like?
It's listed as CO and it occurs to me that if 50% or more of people turn up in cossies, it rather defeats the object of it being a skinny dip. Anyone know what sort of turnout there is likely to be?
Used to live just down the road from there and never knew it existed.
Their facebook site seems to show they have held a few with mainly ladies commenting on going. There has been a ladies only event aswell.
surely wont matter if not many naked as is advertised as clothing optional so no one would mind.
Looks like usually Thursdays it is shut so open just for this event.
Thanks for that. I was not aware they had a Facebook page. I'm visiting this evening so will report back more fully thereafter.
I attended the above event the other evening at Race Hubs premises at Six Hills. There were somewhere around 50-60 people present, a good mix of ages and genders, with only some 20-25% using the CO option. Many attendees did not appear to be the usual naturist types who belong to naturist clubs but went along for a naked swim.
The swimming is open water around a course some 500m in length. Fortunately, for us less able swimmers most of the course is not deep, around 1.5m, though the lake bottom is covered with weed and silt.
Afterwards there is an opportunity for socialising with coffee and cake available from the onsite cafe. For me, the best part was being able to be out in the open air without clothes in the company of like minded people.
The next CO event at Race Hub will be on Thursday 13th August at 6.30pm. See https://gymcatch.com/app/provider/4726/events/2751Nid
Weather permitting, I'll be there again.
I should have said that the next CO event at Race Hub will be on Thursday, 4th August at 6.30pm. However, it is WOMEN ONLY, which is disappointing. I'm sure there'd be an outcry if it were men only.
https://m.facebook.com/events/race-hub/women-only-clothing-optional-swim/584003706447121/
@simon1000 True, but since many women have an issue with nudity and more so with men present then if such events enables them to enjoy the experience hopefully they will then grow in confidence to attend mixed events - many places do it - even in Germany.
At least as far as this event is concerned, the women did not seem to have an issue with nudity, despite men being present. Around 50% of attendees, as far as I could judge, were women and nearly all were naked. There were a few, no more than around 5, wearing neoprene all-over swimsuits. They appeared to be the 'serious swimmer' type out for a swim rather than being there for a CO event. Two women I spoke to were at this CO event for the first time and only their second time at the venue. Perhaps understandably in the circumstances, they wore swimming gear but afterwards, presumably seeing other women walking about naked, the older one removed her top to dry off (what she did about her lower half I didn't notice).
Although I can understand your reasoning, men only venues have been forced to relinquish their 'no women' policy (and rightly so, in my opinion) but it seems perfectly acceptable in some quarters to run women only events that disadvantage men. Double standards to say the least, in an age when equality is supposedly a by word. I'm sure you'll agree that naturism, in whatever form, should be open to all.
Oh I don't know if I mind waiting a bit longer if a women's only evening gives others a chance to get started with nude swimming. A simple 'everyone welcome' policy doesn't necessarily mean an actual equality of access in this messy world we live in, you have to try other ways. Let's hope for converts.
Still, my partner and I keep missing out on this one for one reason or another. Hopefully they'll have something in September when the water might be at its warmest (unless that's not the point?). By the way, how have people been booking? One thing I can't tolerate is being made to download an app to book something. We need a law against that (seriously).
Although I can understand your reasoning, men only venues have been forced to relinquish their 'no women' policy (and rightly so, in my opinion) but it seems perfectly acceptable in some quarters to run women only events that disadvantage men. Double standards to say the least, in an age when equality is supposedly a by word. I'm sure you'll agree that naturism, in whatever form, should be open to all.
There’s a world of difference between an establishment being men only, or even women only, and having some sessions which are single sex. The first is exclusive and has been used to keep women out of politics, sport, business. The second is provided to broaden availability particularly to under-represented groups who may be put off in a mixed environment. It is not uncommon for saunas, Turkish baths and swimmimg pools to provide single sex sessions, even while requiring clothing!
And men only clubs do still exist, rightly or wrongly…
It is good that the mix was near 50%. This tends not to happen in most naturist environments, but open water swimming has become very popular with women, and it also considerably lowers, or rather broadens, the age profile. NESD is a very good example.
Tread lightly upon the earth
Perhaps it might help to encourage more women if the first golden rule of naturism - nothing sexual - was emphasised more.
If we go down the segregated route, to encourage young newcomers, how about a session restricted to under 30's so that they do not feel intimidated by those doddery old wrinklies over 50 with everything gone south? The excuses for disadvantaging one section of society over another are endless.
Women only events also discriminate against women. Many at the event I attended were with a male partner/ friend. They may attend with males for reasons of access or comfort i.e. being with someone they know. How many of these women will attend an event if their partners/ friends are prohibited from accompanying them?
Sad to say, the only means of attending the event on 13th August is booking and paying via the Gymcatch link listed above.