Thousands strip off for Sydney nude swim

The sun wasn’t out but the guns most definitely were when thousands of people stripped off to take part in The Sydney Skinny annual charity race.

Close to 1400 swimmers flocked to Cobblers Beach in Sydney’s Middle Harbour, daring to bare as they swam the 300 and 900 metre course.

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But before your inner prude kicks in, all that nudity was for a good cause.

With the event about “personally challenging yourself to step ever-so-slightly outside your comfort zone”, it’s all about the journey – and not the nudity - for everyone who takes part.

In fact, no spectators are allowed and all swimmers are given sarongs as they come out of the water.

Oh, and swimmers are encouraged to raise money for charity partners including Foundation for Parks and Wildlife and Cure Brain Cancer Foundation.

For surfing legend Layne Beachley, the day was about having fun without any inhibitions whatsoever.

“It’s amazing how many excuses people have when I say ‘you want to come swim nude with me?’ and they’re like ‘Uh, maybe give me another 12 months when I’ve lost all little bit more weight,’” Layne told the TODAY show.

"We're all born, flesh and blood, and it's a matter of just going outside, having some fun and swimming with thousands of people."

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