A nude world record was set today when 400 people stripped off naked and went running into the sea.
People came to South Wales from all over the globe to take part in the world skinny-dipping record on Rhossili Beach, Gower.
They tore off their clothes shortly before 8am and bravely ran into the water shrieking and whooping with delight seemingly unperturbed by the wet and wind conditions.
But their cries of joy were replaced by ooohs and aaahs once their naked bodies entered into the icy sea temperature.
Skinny dipper Lizzy White, 25, said: 'I have flown in from Australia via Brazil to take part - what was I thinking of?
'But it was great fun and very exhilarating to strip off and dive into the waves, even if they are a lot colder than what I'm used to.'
Shivering first-time skinny dipper Steve Absalom, 29, said: 'I'm quite shy and I have never swam naked before so to do it in front of 400 people was a bit of an eye-opener.
'But there was no embarrassment - it was just great fun.
'The dash from the shoreline into the waves was the hardest bit but once you are in the water - what the hell!
'I’m very proud to have helped to set the new world record - it is something I will be able to tell my grandchildren.'
Organisers of the event said their challenge had to be verified by Guinness but they believe they have smashed the previous record of 250 skinny-dippers.
Spokeswoman Alison Powell said: 'It was great fun - I have never seen so many happy smiling faces.
'We hoped for 300 people but in the end we got a lot more - I'm delighted with the turn out.'
Organisers are hoping the sponsored skinny-dip will raise more than £5,000 for the Marie Curie cancer charity.
And many of the nudists posed to have their photographs taken in the shallows to prove to their sponsors that they took part in the event.
Naked Sue Jones, 39, of Carmarthen, said: 'I'm putting my picture on Facebook for all to see.
'I've skinny-dipped before in Greece and Spain. This was the first time in Wales ... and the last!'
People came to South Wales from all over the globe to take part in the world skinny-dipping record on Rhossili Beach, Gower.
They tore off their clothes shortly before 8am and bravely ran into the water shrieking and whooping with delight seemingly unperturbed by the wet and wind conditions.
But their cries of joy were replaced by ooohs and aaahs once their naked bodies entered into the icy sea temperature.
Skinny dipper Lizzy White, 25, said: 'I have flown in from Australia via Brazil to take part - what was I thinking of?
'But it was great fun and very exhilarating to strip off and dive into the waves, even if they are a lot colder than what I'm used to.'
Shivering first-time skinny dipper Steve Absalom, 29, said: 'I'm quite shy and I have never swam naked before so to do it in front of 400 people was a bit of an eye-opener.
'But there was no embarrassment - it was just great fun.
'The dash from the shoreline into the waves was the hardest bit but once you are in the water - what the hell!
'I’m very proud to have helped to set the new world record - it is something I will be able to tell my grandchildren.'
Organisers of the event said their challenge had to be verified by Guinness but they believe they have smashed the previous record of 250 skinny-dippers.
Spokeswoman Alison Powell said: 'It was great fun - I have never seen so many happy smiling faces.
'We hoped for 300 people but in the end we got a lot more - I'm delighted with the turn out.'
Organisers are hoping the sponsored skinny-dip will raise more than £5,000 for the Marie Curie cancer charity.
And many of the nudists posed to have their photographs taken in the shallows to prove to their sponsors that they took part in the event.
Naked Sue Jones, 39, of Carmarthen, said: 'I'm putting my picture on Facebook for all to see.
'I've skinny-dipped before in Greece and Spain. This was the first time in Wales ... and the last!'
dailymail.co.uk
