Portia Predny says it didn't take much to convince her to strip off and dive into the cold waters of Hobart's River Derwent on a chilly winter morning.
"I was pretty keen from the start, as soon as I knew it was a thing," the Sydney woman said.
"It was fabulous ... You don't even notice the cold so much, you just notice that it's bracing and exhilarating and adrenaline-inducing, and you just need to move as fast as possible."
The air temperature at Long Beach in Sandy Bay was just 3 degrees Celsius, and the water temperature about 13C, as 1,500 swimmers took to the water at sunrise to mark the end of the longest night — and the end of this year's Dark Mofo festival.
This was the second 'official' nude solstice swim Sam Bell, Ms Predny's friend, has done.
"And we did an unofficial one last year," the Hobart local said.
"It's a bit like a baptism of freezing fire."
The last time the swim was held, in 2019, a record number of almost 2,000 people took part.
This year, because of coronavirus gathering restrictions, the number was capped at 1,500.
That number was reached within half an hour of registrations opening. A waiting list was drawn up in case of cancellations.
Organisers said a number of people turned up at Long Beach in case of a last-minute cancellation.
Swim something everyone should 'have a crack at'
Those who did manage to register spoke about their love of taking the plunge with hundreds of others.
"The swim's amazing, the atmosphere is very electric and happy and positive," Cheryl Weily said.
Regular solstice swimmer Stuart Tanner said the event had become a tradition for him and a group of friends since it started.
"The huge crowd as you run into the water, and the sound of the crowd behind you is just fantastic, it's a really great feeling as en masse everyone just charges in," he said.
His friend, Tim Pargiter, said he also enjoyed the crowd.
"I like to swim out the front and then flip over and just watch everyone coming towards me — it's hilarious," he said.
After the swim, participants gathered on the beach, some warming themselves by fires. Hot drinks were being enjoyed.
Todd Whiley said he and his family would have a big breakfast.
He said the "exhilarating" swim was also becoming a tradition for his family.
"It's something that everyone should have a crack at," he said.
The inaugural swim in 2013 almost nearly didn't proceed after police threatened to arrest people for public indecency.
Event organisers underestimated how many people would be participating, resulting in a surplus of naked bums and a shortage of towels in 2017.
