Nudists Save Sinking Boat at Yacht Race

Ah, a yacht race. Oh, we're taking on water—and being rescued by nudists. Such was the experience of yacht-racing fans whose small wooden boat began sinking near the popular "Sydney to Hobart" race on Boxing Day in Australia, the Telegraph reports. Once yachts departed to start the race, a few of the event's 600,000 spectators noticed the vessel approaching Lady Bay Beach, a common nudist site. "The boat came angling into the shore, which was a bit weird," says Chris Pearce, a Getty photographer. "I thought maybe they were dropping someone off." Then he heard "a guy with a kid" on the boat screaming expletives and "come help, come help" as the vessel took on water.

Among those who waded in, rescued a woman and child, and pulled the boat to shore were people in the buff, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. "Everyone basically just stopped and watched and looked as this happened," says Pearce. "When they were walking past everyone thought it was funny, because it was a nudist beach, and then this happened." In fact, one guy on board was seen grinning as nude guys surrounded the boat. A few hundred people watched the spectacle, which lasted for about five minutes. (More nudist stories.)