"Dangerous" weather forces surf event change

Sand to Surf, State Ocean Swim Series 2012.

UPDATED 11.58am: Poor weather and sea conditions have forced the relocation and change of start times of round five of the State New Zealand Ocean Swim series planned for Mount Maunganui tomorrow.

The event is expected to draw more than 1100 to the beach to take part. All four races within the event have now been delayed by an hour.

Event director Scott Rice decided all State Sand To Surf races would now be held on Pilot Bay, instead of the normal course out from Mount Maunganui's main beach.

"We have had no choice but to move the course because the forecast is for a 2.5 - 2.7m swell and an on-shore 15-20 knot South Easterly wind.

"That would make for dangerous and messy conditions out from Mt Maunganui's main Beach.

"So after consultation with the Mt Maunganui Surf Club and Bay of Plenty Harbour Authorities, we've decided to move to the protected waters of Pilot Bay on the Tauranga side of Mount Maunganui," he said.

Despite the change of course, none of the races will be shortened, including the main race, which remains 2.6km long.

This will be the second time in the event's history the contingency course will have been used due to conditions. The first time was in 2011.

A huge line-up of 1100 swimmers will line up in tomorrow's races, including a strong field of elite swimmers in the main race, including former world 5km open water champion Melissa Gorman, other Australians George O'Brien and Rhys Mainstone and New Zealand number one Kane Radford, all of whom have won races in this year's series.

New race start times as follows:
'I'm Going Long' 2.6km - 10.30am start (briefing 10.10am at Pilot Bay)
'Step it Up' 1000m - 12.15pm start (briefing 12.10pm at Pilot Bay)
'Give it a Go' 300m - 12.55pm start (briefing 12.50pm at Pilot Bay)
State OceanKids 200m - (1pm at Pilot Bay)