+++ This article is an April Fool's joke! The stand regulations only refer to the use of the stand and not the water area in front of it. Boaters are therefore allowed to leave their clothes on on board. However, if they drive ashore in a dinghy with their clothes on, naturists may feel harassed and a beach bailiff may be called to ask them to leave the beach or undress +++++
Sailors must take off their clothes when anchoring or swimming off nudist beaches at the mouth of the Warnow. This is regulated by the New beach statutes of the Hanseatic City of Rostock It now states under paragraph 4 "Clothing on the beach": "On naturist beaches, the stay is reserved exclusively for persons practising nudism. Bathing clothed and sunbathing clothed is not permitted."
Harassment at the naturist centre can be punished
The reason for this concretisation was a request from the beach bailiffs. Previously, they had little power to prevent offences. Now, however, they can expel people from the beach if they do not comply with the nudity ban in the relevant sections of the bylaws. "However, the basis for this is always that people must feel harassed," says Moritz Naumann, Head of Marketing and PR for the Hanseatic city. In the past, conflicts have repeatedly arisen when, for example, clothed people have been present on nudist-only beaches.
Sailors also have to undress at the naturist centre
The bathing beach also includes the water area directly in front of it. So when sailors drop anchor off nudist beaches, they must also undress on board. This is also to avoid the suspicion that they are simply observing the nudists. They might feel harassed by the crew gawping at them. This also applies to swimming from on board, which is only permitted in the nude, and even more so when travelling to the beach in a dinghy. All clothing must be removed at the latest when entering the beach.
Different regulations
Each local authority regulates itself whether the area in question is a nudist beach and what exactly must be observed there. Just how complicated it can be to find the right section of beach for you is shown by the example of the Rostock beach statutes. There are different sections designated on the beach in Warnemünde and on the other side of the Warnow in front of Markgrafenheide. These can be complete nudist beaches or sections where "clothed and unclothed sunbathing is permitted". Textile-only beaches are also designated, where at least swimwear should be worn.
Sailors in other areas along the coast, especially the popular beaches around Rügen or off Usedom, should therefore find out what applies on the beach before dropping anchor. You can find valuable tips on anchoring correctly in our special.
Nudism is very popular
Nudist beaches are popular in many European countries, especially in Germany, France and Croatia. In Germany, the movement has a long tradition dating back to the early 20th century. People value nudity on the beach as an expression of freedom, naturalness and equality, free from socially imposed conventions. The removal of inhibitions and the connection to nature are said to promote well-being. Nudism experienced a particular boom in Germany after the Second World War and became popular in the 1970s.
+++ This article is an April Fool's joke! The stand regulations only refer to the use of the stand and not the water area in front of it. Boaters are therefore allowed to leave their clothes on on board. However, if they drive ashore in a dinghy with their clothes on, naturists may feel harassed and a beach bailiff may be called to ask them to leave the beach or undress +++++
