See you in 2009!

Cap d’ Agde has always enjoyed a reputation for a certain raciness, but it seems that the sexual licence has gone too far. Whatever the motive and whoever is responsible for the arson attacks, if that is what they were, it is clear that once again genuine naturists fear that their traditional haunts are being stolen from them by  groups with a more sexual agenda. ( See here also).

However, the swinging set tend to be younger and more free-spending. Clubs and resorts are commercial ventures, and can’t be blamed for trying to maximise profits.

Maybe the time has come to draw a line in the sand, to “give us back our nudist”. Maybe the INF (International Naturist Federation) should bestow an “INF Approved” certification on clubs and other entities which meet agreed nudist standards, and withhold it from those that don’t. This would go someway to distinguishing between us and the so called “nudists” with a sexual agenda, and be a clear signal that we were trying to put space between us. At least it might force the more dubious “nudist” groups, clubs and resorts to reveal where their true interests lie.

One caveat though. Genuine naturists don’t tend to be big spenders and good quality nudist resources are expensive to build and maintain. Many successful clubs and resorts have been subsidised for years by a discreetly risqué minority, but an “Approved ” certification would put a stop to this.  It would be up to us genuine naturists to dig into our pockets to support them. Use them or lose them.

Are we up to it?

Tony and Lenore Fox, owners of The White Cockatoo Resort.

The owners of The White Cockatoo Club in Queensland Australia- once billed as the nation’s top-spot for group sex and swingers -are planning an adults-only month of hedonism for March next year in a bid to increase dwindling tourist numbers.

Tony and Lenore Fox said the resort was close to being booked out.

“Tough economic times call for stiff measures,” Mr Fox was quoted as saying. “We’re not using the words sex or swingers, but it doesn’t take rocket science to work out what it means.”

Since taking over the resort some years ago the owners have attracted a certain amount of controversy and this isn’t the first time the resort has hit the headlines.

Three years ago, it put a ban on swingers’ parties after a string of out-of-control romps between couples and groups.

Although the plan has the support of Cairns Regional Mayor Val Schier, it has enraged Australian nudists.

“This is going to fly in the face of years of campaigning,” said Lindsay Parkyns, president of the Australian Nudist Federation. “We try to get beaches to be clothes optional but unfortunately that attracts the wrong sort of people – particularly single guys looking for sex – and [the resort's party] will keep reinforcing that problem.”

I share Mr Parkyns concerns but with respect I think he is trying to hit the wrong ball and in doing so has made matters worse.

The White Cockatoo Club doesn’t claim to be a “nudist” club. It is not affiliated to the Australian Nudist Federation, the INF or any other official naturist body. Its website makes it clear that it is a commercial resort catering to three distinct markets, nudist, family and adults only, (which is an interesting business model but a potential source of great embarrassment should you get your dates mixed up!), and to call it a nudist resort because it sometimes opens up its facilities to nudists is like calling the US Air Force a charity because it sometimes drops aid parcels to the needy.

In fact the only people calling the White Cockatoo a nudist resort are the press,and, inadvertently by implication, Mr Parkyns.

The problem is that we’ve lost control of the words nudist and naturist. Nearly every sex and swingers club on the Internet calls itself nudist, as do sites featuring explicit nude photos, exhibitionism, voyeurism and who knows what else. Neither the media nor the general public draws a distinction between them and genuine nudist resources. “Nudist” has become a convenient peg on which to hang all sorts of deviant behaviour, and genuine nudists have suffered by association.

Instead of railing against those resorts who are merely trying to stay in business in difficult times, we should distance ourselves from them and make it quite clear that though they, or the media may call themselves nudist, they are in fact nothing to do with us.

It’s high time time we reclaimed the term “nudist’ for ourselves.

Nude dining in New York

Arianne Cohen’s highly entertaining account of her night at a private, all-nude New York dinner party.

http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2008-11-11/hold-the-dressing/

http://lifestyle.iafrica.com/content_feed/telkom/1242744.htm

Cap d

NFN Travel has organized a Mediterranean tour that begins in Nice, France and ends in Cap d’Agde, the Naked City with visits in between to Monte Carlo, Monaco. The tour will be hosted by the congenial Paul and Claudine who have many years experience hosting Mediterranean tours.

The dates are July 14 – 25, 2009  For Bookings or more information go to NFN Travel, click on the “home” tab and select the Cap d’Agde link

Read my impressions of Cap d’Agde on this post.

Álvaro Campos, president of ANC, is protesting against the decisions. However, Lagos Câmara has agreed to the possible legalisation of Pinheiros beach for naturists. more…

And all because a fence separating the German and Polish sides of a Baltic beach has been removed to allow freedom of access to both communities.

And I thought nudism broke down barriers and brought people together!