Youth blitz first leg of Shipwreck Coast Swim Series in Port Fairy

Conditions were favourable as competitors of all ages took on the 1.2 kilometre swim across the bay.

Taking out first place in the Port Fairy Moyneyana Open Swim for the second year in a row was Hawthorn East's Thomas Hay, who crossed the finish line in 16 minutes and 46 seconds.

The 18-year-old said his training for state championships helped get him across the line.

"It was a very good swim, it was surprisingly windy but overall good conditions," he said.

"I did states a few weeks ago and I've also been doing some ocean training ahead of the Lorne Pier to Pub, so this was a good practice one for that."

In first place in the women's was 16-year-old Alyssia Jenkins who made it to the finish line in 17 minutes and 33 seconds.

It was the teen's first ocean swim.

"I've only ever trained in swimming pools before but never the ocean, so this is pretty exciting," she said.

"It was really nice, the water was really nice and the waves weren't too bad either.

"It's a cool feeling, I knew there were a few people ahead of me but I didn't know they were males, I wasn't expecting to come out as the first female so I'm pretty happy with the outcome."

The January 4 race marked the first leg of three in the Shipwreck Coast Swim Series, which will also be held in Warrnambool on January 12 and in Port Campbell on February 2.

The course, out through the break, heads west along the beach and back in to the finish.

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