A little over 1000 competitors hit the water for the annual Sand to Surf race held at Mount Maunganui Main Beach on Saturday.

Multi record holders Nathan Capp and Charlotte Webby took out the top positions in the 2.6km ‘I'm Going Long' swim for the male and female divisions.

More than 1000 swimmers competed at the annual Sand to Surf held at Mount Maunganui Main beach on Saturday. Photo: Tracy Hardy

Other top performers in the 2.6km ‘I'm Going Long' swim included Phillip Ryan, Stefannie Gillespie, Michael Sheil and Penny Hayes, who finished second and third in their male and female age groups, respectively.

'It was a great start in the race for multi NZ record holder and Olympic hopeful, Nathan Capp,” says New Zealand Ocean Swim Series event organiser Scott Rice.

'Though Nathan managed to retain his lead on Phillip Ryan throughout the swim, it was a very close finish between the two, with Nathan pipping Ryan at the post by just 6 seconds.”

Charlotte Webby dominated the women's race from the start, finishing a whole minute before the pack. Charlotte travels to Portugal later this year for her final opportunity to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games.

NZ Ocean Swim legend, 85 year old Sid Salek, fired the starting gun for the 2.6km swim. Sid has been part of the series for years and continues to be an incredible role model for swimmers of all ages, says Scott.

'The Mount's cloudless sky and minimal surf made the swim very enjoyable for all swimmers.”

The 2.6km race female champion Charlotte Webb. Photo: Cameron Walker

The event was the sixth a series of seven events, which caters for swimmers of all skill sets and offers an opportunity for recreational swimmers to take the plunge alongside some top name swimming elites.

Other distances at the event included the 300m ‘Give it A Go' distance, the 1km ‘Step It Up' distance, and for youngsters (under 14 years of age) the 200m ‘OceanKids' event.

On the day the six newest members in the Jetstar Super Swim Squad. This special squad is made up of youngsters (aged 7-13 years) who win their age group in the OceanKids 200m events from throughout the season and it involves attending an end of season training camp in Auckland with top NZ swimmers and coaches.

New Squad members include Tyler Tapper (Matamata), Sophie Spencer (Auckland), Michael Lansdown (Hastings), Janaye Burns (Auckland), Henry Scholes (Tauranga) and Renee Carey (Tauranga).

The final event of the series is the King of the Bays Swim in Auckland, on Saturday the 2nd of April.

The charity partner for the New Zealand Ocean Swim Series is Surf Life Saving New Zealand.

To view more photos from Sand to Surf click here.

The 2.6km race male champion Nathan Capp. Photo: Cameron Walker