As many as a thousand people on Sunday participated in the world's first nude ocean swim, the Sydney Skinny.

People lined up from 8am to toss off their inhibitions and bathers to swim the 900 metres in Sydney's Middle Harbour.

In the buff ... swimmers at the start of Sydney Skinny, a nude ocean swim at Cobblers Beach near Mosman. Credit:Janie Barrett

''There was an 89-year-old bloke, someone flew in from overseas, there were four paraplegics, a double amputee, there were fat people, thin people, young and old,'' said organiser Nigel Marsh.

''It was just joyous,'' said Mr Marsh. ''I am floating on cloud nine. It is probably one of the nicest days of my life.''