Marine traffic on the Waitemata will stop on Saturday morning as close to 1400 swimmers take to the sea at Bayswater on the North Shore, destination Viaduct Harbour in Auckland for the sixth annual harbour crossing .
The field for the first of six races in the Sovereign Ocean Swim Series includes the former double Olympic gold medalist Danyon Loader.
The 34-year-old's not out to compete with the likes of current Olympian Moss Burmester though and says he wants to use the 2.8 kilometre race to raise awareness about water safety.
Loader says swimming in the sea's a lot more fun than plodding up and down a pool.
He's hoping his participation can help motivate young people to learn to swim and become a little safer in the water.
