At the opening of the Vasnat naturist resort last weekend about 60 people came to scope out the premises and had no problems shedding their clothes once the dignitaries had left.

And 95% of them were local Afrikaners, said Mark Taylor, who runs the resort with his wife Samantha.

The naturist couple are not new to the nudist resort business, having established the Vassalike Naturis Club on the Greek island of Kefalonia in 2007.

Since then – and despite the global economic downturn – their naked ambition has seen their unusual business flourish, and now expand to South Africa.

“People thought we were totally crazy when we left our jobs to start a hotel for naturists,” said Samantha, 32, who walked out on a lucrative management role at City firm JP Morgan. Mark, 39, worked as a chef.

The new resort, on an extensive property backing onto the Helderberg Mountains, boasts an outdoor swimming pool, luscious gardens, easy access to the beach and a spa.

Mark said they run a respectable operation.

“There are no sexual connotations at all,” said Mark.

“If anyone has any wrong ideas they’ll be out so fast they won’t believe it.”

The point of naturism was to enjoy nature without having to wear a “soggy bathing costume”.

Clients were professionals of all ages who wanted to enjoy nature and socialise without the burden of clothing.

“When people undress they become so much more sociable as all symbols of status were stripped,” said Mark.

Brian Coldin, was charged with three counts of being nude on public property and two counts of being nude on private property within view of the public.

The incidents, which are said to have taken place between April 2008 and May 2009, include hiking through a public park, passing through drivethrus at both Tim Hortons and A&W and getting into an argument with a family that mistakenly visited the beach at Coldin’s High Falls Resort clothing optional water park in Bracebridge, 190 kilometres north of Toronto.

Defence lawyer Clayton Ruby argued Coldin wasn’t completely nude as he was — at the very least — wearing sandals.

He was also on or near his own private property and never behaved in a “prurient or indecent manner,” Ruby said.

“The Crown failed to produce any evidence showing that innocent, nonsexual nudity causes harm,” Ruby said in his statement of facts, adding the Crown also failed to rebut expert testimony that “exposure to nudity alone does not cause harm.

“As the Crown has failed to prove the legal elements … beyond a reasonable doubt, Mr. Coldin must be acquitted.”

Coldin will return to court on Jan. 25, when he’s expected to challenge the constitutionality of Canada’s nudity laws.

The judge will likely give his decision in writing at a later date.

Naked Model

Jenny loves to show off her great body. Check out this free nudist picture gallery of Jenny posing naked at a construction site.

Erick Williamson, 29, continues to believe that he has done nothing wrong and that he did not purposely expose himself to two women and a seven-year-old boy who had walked past his house on the morning of October 19.

He immediately appealed against his conviction.

A seven-person jury will rule on the propriety of Williamson’s domestic nudity in February.

”That’s outrageous,” he said, after the verdict. ”It’s unbelievable.”

He said publicity from the arrest had cost him a job as a commercial diver. ”I’m the victim,” he said.

Testimony in the hour-long trial before District Court Judge Ian O’Flaherty revealed two separate incidents of alleged exposure had occurred over a two-hour period.

Williamson denied standing naked in his doorway or front window and said he had no intent to expose himself to anyone.

But Judge O’Flaherty likened Williamson to bank robber John Dillinger, who also ”thought he was doing nothing wrong when he walked into banks and shot them up”.

The incidents occurred at Williamson’s rented townhouse in Fairfax, Virginia.

Williamson testified that his four flatmates had left the house at 5.10am.

He said he had been up all night packing, preparing to move out of the townhouse. Because he had the place to himself, he said, he walked to the kitchen sans garments.

”Personal freedom,” Williamson said, explaining his nudity. ”It’s very liberating.”

He said he never stood in front of the open doorway or the window, was merely going about his morning business and didn’t intend to expose himself.

Williamson’s lawyer argued that ”nudity in one’s home is not a crime. Under the circumstances of this case, a person who is careless, who should have drawn the blinds and didn’t, that is not criminal behaviour. If you’re in a private place and take your clothes off, you have not committed a crime.”

Judge O’Flaherty responded: ”What if you’re in a private place and standing in front of a big plate glass window?”

Judge O’Flaherty sentenced him to 180 days in jail, suspended for one year.

He imposed no fine, just court costs of about $US72, which Williamson didn’t have to pay because he appealed.

Its current edition will count on international presence, given that 3 British, other 3 French, a Italian, an Irish and a German have joined the popular nudist competition.

The 5000-metre (3.107 miles) nudist race takes place on compact sand when the tide is low.

A trophy will be given to the first three of each category, although there will be presents to all the participants reaching the finishing line.

Despite the registration deadline finishes on Thursday 17, participants still can join the race on Saturday 19, just before the competition starts.

Naturist race