About
South West’s Prestigious Open Water Swimming Event
The World Famous Shipwreck Coast Swim Series is
Victoria’s original ocean swim series and is a true
open water swimming experience.
All venues allow excellent spectator viewing and comfortably support a large gathering of supporters and spectators on some of Victoria’s most iconic beaches.
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Portland
The David Tapscott Memorial Portland Ocean Challenge swim
Saturday 3rd January 2026
Port Fairy
The Port Fairy (or Moyneyana Open water swim)
Saturday 27th December 2025
Warrnambool
The Tony Ryan Memorial, Warrnambool swim
Monday 26th January 2026
Port Campbell
The Port Campbell, 12 Apostles Plunge, Jon McLeod memorial swim
Sunday 8th February 2026
About The Swims
A Piece of History!
While it might not share the same mainstream profile as the Lorne “Pier to Pub,” the Warrnambool Hopkins Mile Swim holds the prestigious title of being the oldest open-water swim in Victoria. Though often mentioned alongside the Tony Ryan Memorial Swim, the two remain distinct events that anchor a storied tradition on the Shipwreck Coast.
The regional circuit offers four unique ocean swims across four picturesque beach environments. Since 2004, the events have been running as a structured three-race series, which officially expanded in 2022 with the addition of the Portland swim.
​Warrnambool SLSC is the oldest Surf Life Saving Club in Victoria (celebrating their 90th anniversary in 2019), Portland SLSC was formed in 1931 and officially founded in 1947, Port Fairy SLSC was founded in 1951 and Port Campbell formed in 1963, all four clubs have a close relationship and the swim series is the most public evidence of this.
A Swim with a Cause
The four shipwreck coast swims each offer a unique ocean swim experience. The arced beach swim from Port Fairy’s East Beach, Warrnambool’s swim crosses Lady Bay, Portland’s swim crosses an actual ship wreck and the Port Campbell swim ventures out to the iconic dual headlands of the Port Campbell beach. Spend the day exploring each city’s unique offerings.
The swim series represents a major fund raiser shared equally between the clubs and contributes to help fund their combined duty to patrol the South West’s beaches over summer and year round. Life Saving is a unique emergency service being run totally by volunteers, each club presents a social and strong knit community that warmly welcomes any new members.
Put your love of swimming to the community benefit by undertaking your Bronze medallion and helping us patrol our communities beaches.
Sponsors
Thank You To Our Partners
Register to Race!
Whether you are doing all four or just one, two or three individual races, here’s the link to register!