Phillip Ryan has smashed the field to record his first ever victory of the nationwide ocean swim series in the latest round at Mount Maunganui.
Charlotte Webby was even more emphatic in the women's race as she extended her overall lead in the series.
All races were moved from the main Mount Maunganui Beach to the more sheltered Pilot Bay in lieu of the shocking weather affecting the entire North Island and parts of the South.
The calm water was meant to be a blessing for series leader Bryn Murphy, taking away some of the open water edge that the likes of Ryan might otherwise have enjoyed - but the 20-year-old took it to the field with race favourite Murphy finishing strongly to come home in second ahead of Jonathan Pullon and consolidate his lead in the series.
The series-defining final race takes place at Takapuna on April the 16th.
