Picture: Red, white ... and turning blue very quickly

Picture / Alan Gibson.

Brothers Dave and Phil Hurn were not going to miss a chance for a swim at "the best beach in the world", even if was just three days to the shortest day of the year.

Dave (left), a Mt Maunganui local, and Phil, from Tauranga, joined about 100 other brave souls for the annual "Polar Bear Mid Winter Swim" at Main Beach, the Mount, yesterday.

It was the second year in a row the brothers had braved the chilly waters, 40-year-old Dave saying it was "something to do".

Said Phil, 44: "We've got to have a bit of fun."

Like last year, the pair sprinted to the water in board shorts and body paint.

This year, the paint was "Fire and Ice" red and white.

Last year, it was blue for the Blues Brothers.

Standing around before the swim at 1pm, the brothers were already shivering.

"It's just the wind chill," Dave said. "It's not too bad in the sun."

Several hundred spectators watched as the swimmers hit the water with piercing screams. The water temperature hit 15C. With an air temperature of 12C, not counting the wind-chill factor, some swimmers said it was warmer in than out.

The swim, organised by children's charity Kiwanis and Classic Hits radio station, raised several hundred dollars for Plunket.