Having claimed all five previous rounds, Day was looking to make history at Kingscliff and did so in emphatic fashion, completing one of the greatest sporting comebacks in recent memory. It was a fine achievement on its own, but doing it at the end of a long comeback trail from breaking both wrists on a promo shoot two years ago made it all the more remarkable.

It ruled him out of the entire 2020 season and threatened what was already one of the great careers. Now the 30-year-old Kiama product is truly in the conversation about the greatest competitor in the history of the sport.

Day cruised across the line in second spot in race number one and put a 15-second gap on the field in a dominant display in race two. It saw the pressure build on the decider but Day broke the field on the opening swim leg pulling down the front of wave for a monster lead after just one leg.

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It made mother nature his only rival over the final two legs but, in relatively calm conditions, the board and ski legs were a virtual cruise allowing the six-time Coolangatta Gold champion grab his third Nutri-Grain crown.

"I'm on top of the world right now, it's a bit of a relief to be honest that it's all over," Day told Channel 9 post-race.

"I'm sure it'll sink in tonight, I'm sure it'll sink in tomorrow and I'm sure it'll sink in in five or six years' time when I'm retired. I'll look back on this time as a very, very special time. At the start of the year I just wanted to win one or two races.

"I'd have loved to win one more race while I'm still racing and I'd obviously just had [son] Danny. I just wanted to win one race for him, but to win six and another series is what I was chasing. I've won Coolangatta Golds, world titles, I've won two series before but easily, hands down, from what I came back from it's easily the best thing I've ever done."

With wife Kel and sone Danny looking on, Day admits wrestling with all kinds of emotions at the tarting line, but will be looking to wind down before considering his next move.

"This time last year I couldn't bear to turn the TV on and I can't believe I'm standing here right now," he said.

"That's what I kept reminding myself when I was on the start-line today 'you wanted to be here, this is what you missed'. I was looking out at the horizon thinking about this time last year and told myself 'just go for it, one more'.

"Who knows [what's next]. I'll talk to [coach] Zane [Holmes], and my coaches and family. Right now I can't wait to just go back, see Kel, see Danny, see my friends and family and just switch my mind off."

The story: Day achieves perfection in claiming historic series sweep first appeared in the Illawarra Mercury.