Your summer. Your swims. A bigger, bolder GVSS.

Ten iconic Victorian swims. One incredible summer. A community that makes every finish line worth celebrating.

The Great Victorian Swim Series is back for 2026–27, bringing together spectacular coastal swims, friendly competition and prizes worth pulling your goggles on for. Whether you’re chasing a podium finish, building your confidence or catching up with your swim crew, there’s a place for you in the GVSS.

Powered by oceanswims.com, in partnership with Tomato Timing, Race Roster, and Masters Swimming Victoria, this is your invitation to make more of your summer - one swim at a time.

Big swims. Brilliant prizes.

The excitement doesn’t end at the finish line. Our popular post-event prize draws return this season, with gear from leading swim and sporting brands up for grabs at every Series stop.

And the big one? A Norfolk Island escape for the 2028 Pier to Pine Ocean Swim. Think a stunning island setting, an unforgettable swim and a getaway for two to look forward to.

Join the Series, verify your membership when entering each event, and swim to earn your draw entries. Your entries are included automatically in the relevant event draw and accumulate towards the season’s major prize draw. The more Series events you swim, the more chances you can earn.

Every swim adds to your season

A little friendly rivalry makes summer even more fun.

The GVSS leaderboard lets you follow your progress, challenge yourself and see how your season stacks up against swimmers in your age category. With placing points and participation points contributing to your total, both strong results and showing up count.

At the end of the season, each age-category winner earns free entry to every swim in the 2027–28 Series, provided they’ve completed at least four events this season.

Your next swim could be the one that makes the difference.

Rally your Masters club

We’ve teamed up with Masters Swimming Victoria to add some friendly club rivalry! Swim for your Masters club and earn points to help your team become the Series’ top-performing club. The winning club will receive a huge hamper of goodies to share at a club event of their choice.

Rally your clubmates and select your club on the membership form. We’ll update the club point score after the 5th, 7th and final events.

Not part of a Masters club yet? Build your confidence, improve your technique and enjoy training with others between Series events. Find your local club or learn more about joining Masters Swimming Victoria.

Wear your Series pride

Pre-order by 5 November 2026 for early new year delivery | Order Now

Back for its second year, the exclusive GVSS merchandise collection is ready for pre-order, with a fresh addition for your summer swim kit.

Choose from our core range of men’s and women’s swimwear and a lightweight towel, or add this season’s new long-sleeved tee to your collection. Every piece features the refreshed Series identity: clean, coastal and unmistakably Victorian.

With no dates on the designs, your GVSS gear is made to be worn season after season. We’ll introduce a different feature item each year, so you can keep building your collection, from beach arrival to post-swim catch-up.

Each item requires a minimum number of orders. If that minimum isn’t reached, we’ll let you know and offer you the choice of switching to another item or receiving a full refund.

One membership. A whole summer of value.

For just $30, GVSS membership gives you:

• $5 off entry to each Series swim - up to $50 in savings across all 10 events.
• Automatic inclusion in prize draws through the entries you earn by swimming.
• A place on the Series leaderboard and the chance to win next season’s swim entries.
• Exclusive member perks.
• A summer alongside Victoria’s friendly, statewide ocean swimming community.

You’ll also be supporting the volunteer surf lifesaving clubs that help keep our beaches safe.

Join the GVSS, round up your swim crew and make this a summer to remember.

Join the GVSS Facebook Group to connect with fellow swimmers, share your swims and follow the action throughout the season.

How the Series works

Events and entry

• The Series includes 10 events throughout Victoria, with one nominated swim at each event counting towards the Series.
• Membership costs $30 and gives you $5 off each Series swim entry—up to $50 in total savings.
• You must become a GVSS member before entering events to earn Series points and prize draw entries.
• Your membership must be verified on the entry form for every event you enter.

Series points and leaderboard

The Series rewards both strong results and regular participation.

• Placing points: Earn points for finishing in the top five of your category. Only your best four placing-point results count towards your Series total.
• Participation points: Earn three points for every nominated Series swim you complete, regardless of your finishing position. Participation points count across all 10 events and are added to your placing points.
• Category placings include both GVSS members and non-members.

Your Series score = placing points from your best four results + three points for every Series swim completed.

Every swim can improve your Series score, even after you have recorded four strong results.

The leaderboard reveal

For the first seven events, the online leaderboard will show only the placing points from each member’s best four results. Participation points will accumulate from the start of the Series but remain hidden until after event seven, the Bathing Box Classic.

Before event eight, Wreck 2 Reef, we’ll reveal the participation points and update the leaderboard to show each member’s full Series score. From then on, the leaderboard will include both placing and participation points.

The reveal could shake up the standings and bring regular participants into contention for the final three events. Until then, the published placing points tell only part of the story - every swim adds to your total.

It’s another reason to keep swimming, keep chasing and support the Series aim of increasing participation across all Series events.

Series prizes and ties

• Each age-category winner receives free entry to all Series swims in the 2027–28 season.
• To qualify for a Series winner’s prize, you must have completed at least four Series swims.
• If members finish on the same Series score, the member who completed more Series swims ranks higher.
• If they are still tied, their four counted category results are compared from best to worst. The better placing at the first point of difference ranks higher. If all four results are identical, the members share the placing.

How Series points and draw entries are earned

Draw entries are awarded according to your category result. The number shown is your total for that event; the participation entry is not added to the entries for a top-five placing.

Example: Finish second in your category and you earn five placing points, three participation points and five prize draw entries. The five placing points count if the result is one of your best four; the three participation points always count.

Season example: Complete eight Series swims with four second places as your best results, and your total is 20 placing points plus 24 participation points: 44 Series points.

Prize draws

Prize draw entries are calculated separately from Series points.

• A prize draw takes place after each event, using the draw entries earned at that event.
• One prize per member.
• Prizes come from leading brands including Bok Beach Life, OceanFit, Effortless Swimming, Vorgee, ASICS and more.
• The major prize draw combines all draw entries earned across the entire season.

To earn Series points and draw entries, your GVSS membership must be verified on your event entry form.

If a member is mistakenly omitted from an event prize draw, they will receive one additional entry in the major prize draw as compensation.

Your 2026–27 swim calendar

Pick your favourites, try somewhere new or make a summer of all 10.

Follow your season

Results

GVSS results are available on Tomato Timing. We update results a few days after each event, once they’ve been verified. Thanks for your patience while we make sure every swim counts correctly.

A note on Series scores: For the first seven events, the online leaderboard will show only your best four placing-point results. Participation points will accumulate behind the scenes and be revealed after the Bathing Box Classic, before Wreck 2 Reef. From then on, the leaderboard will show both placing and participation points—so keep swimming, because every event counts!

Prize draw announcements

Visit the GVSS Facebook Group to watch the prize draw videos and find out whether you’ve won.

Updates and information

Series information is emailed regularly, with weekly updates also included in the oceanswims.com Newsletter.

Subscribe to the newsletter to keep up with the season.

Norfolk Island Swim Escape prize conditions

The prize is for the 2028 Pier to Pine Ocean Swim.

The prize includes:

• Two nights’ accommodation, twin share.
• Airport meet and greet.
• Three days’ car hire.
• Swim entry for two.

Flights are not included. The prize is non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or credit. The prize is voided if the event is not held.