Further to my previous, Good to see this being taken as a serious option.Although I am 1.5hrs north of taranaki (New Plymouth) I fish the coast weekly and know it to be safer than some of the previous options.I will do some info gathering in the next couple of days and relay relevant. Some of us still have to show for work in the interim. Robert B

I have spoken by phone to the treasurer of New Plymouth Yacht Club. The welcome mat will be out. They are in the middle of a race day but will make contact with Racecon this evening hopefully. Robert B

As far as having a clear (and inspiring) visual point to aim for, the guys will see the magnificent snow capped volcanic cone of Mt Taranaki (2518 metres) in the distance.

In summary, I think that New Plymouth is the best option as your primary target today. My reasons are:

I understand that your primary goal is to land safely anywhere in NZ. You are continuing to get too much Easterly sector winds up there, and south is looking better to escape them. There are not any really good options for landing between Manukau and New Plymouth. The coast is rugged and rocky, with only Waikato rivermouth, Raglan and Kawhia harbours, none of which look like being suitable for Lot 41 to get into in anything but calm days, based on my understanding of her performance so far.

You are close enough to NZ that the tracks to Manukau and New Plymouth are becoming sufficiently divergent that now is the time to choose one as primary goal.

The New Plymouth option gives you a higher likelihood of more westerly winds and east-setting current, which is what you are fairly dependent on. It also gives a few secondary targets. For instance Nelson Bay on the South island is a possible option, should Lot 41 be taken a bit further south, as it is probably provides the most options within it of anywhere to make a sheltered landing.

I have little local knowledge of New Plymouth. My main concern there is vaguely remembering seeing strong winds around it generated by its position on the side of Mt Taranaki. Depending on prevailing wind, this might prevent final approach, given Lot 41's performance profile. You need local advice regarding this.

For secondary landing sites on the North Island if you miss New Plymouth, I am scratching my head. You need westerlies to get in close, but anything but westerlies or southerlies to land at most places, perhaps until you get as far down as Waikanae Beach using Kapiti Island as possible shelter, or Paremata inlet. I have sailed keeler races up the coast to Kapiti, and yachts and sailboards out of Paremata.

Irrespective of all this, should you get significant SW in the next couple of days (not forecast though) you would need to look at switching your goal back to Manukau, given the distance attainable with a good 3 day tailwind.

My most likely landings as of today are in order: New Plymouth, Nelson bay somewhere, Waikanae, Paremata, some other North Island location, Manukau, Pelorus Sounds/D'Urville Island. However you will have to reassess almost daily from here on in.

Yeah, it looks like the Naki is the best place to land at our shores.

Us Aucklanders are getting use to loosing major events to other NZ provinces now. We don't have the Super V8's (Go Holden!), Ellerslie Flower Show (no loss really), Round the World Yacht Racing, Australian A League (Go the Phoenix!) etc etc.

But we will still have the 2011 Rugby World Cup (if we build the stadium in time).

Or you could aim Lot 41 at one of NZ's finest surfing locations directly west of you - catch a left peeling wave at the outside Indicators at Raglan, thru to Whale Bay then a nice long tubing left hander at inside Manu Bay then into the harbour ...just kidding.

Hope you get some westerlies behind you soon. Get some rest and power on guys!

pavlo

The awsome foursome made it to Sydney there departure point was the rough West Coast harbour Hokianga. Assisted by the Coast Guard there.

Most would have chosen a more suitable place rather than there however there choice was the correct one at that time.

The same applys to THE RATS Lot41 would have no problem crossing the Manakau, Raglan, New Plymouth,etc or for that matter any of the bars PROVIDING the cicumstances were correct.

What I am trying to say you guys are paddling from Australia to New Zealand
Your not on a casual jaunt (even though we are given that impression at times)
Its fine that New Plymouth be suggested what has to be considered WE ARE NOT THE PADDLERS.
To be honest I do not understand the tidal current situation that many talk of.
No doubt you would have done some sort of homework on that.

As you approach the land and you start heading down the Coast (if that is your intention) would you not make for the 1st availabe port your landing?
Provided it is safe to do so.I don't know I would assume that you would have at least a day to decide your final landing.

Whatever you do I hope that the Tasman Tigers Get the tail right.
Your doing so well
Tavel safe Travel far
Campbell n Bev
Tweed Heads

Budwana, welcome, your comments are appreciated. As a local Kiwi I would be absolutely wrapt to see the boys come safely through the surf at my favorite surf fishing beach of Morokopa. However I would advise against it.
I will give a quick geography sketch for those interested.

Hokianga was not a bad choice in that it was West Coast and had access tothe sea with a small channel without a bar. I.e. a gap to go through.
Long open beaches for the next 100miles, golden sands, usually black on west coast, to Kaipara entrance. This is the largest southern hemisphere harbour, and has an enormous volume of water rushing in and out. Very dangerous, with mny lives lost on bar.
More sand to Manukau, and on to Port Waikato.(not realy a modern port. Both have very treacherous bars and must be respected.If not feared).
From here to Raglan you get several miles of black sand then seveal more of broken rocks and cliffs. This pretty much is repeated all the way to New Plymouth. The beaches take the full force of the west swells that you Aussies chuck at us and although most beaches are probably tame compared to the mid Tasman re swells the waves dump from about 300 to 1200 yds off shore and it only takes one to dash the hopes and dreams of the best boaties.
Raglan has a a strong entry channell that was historically dredged, It is now fully capped with sand and must be respected. On a good day you could close your eyes and cross safely. There are about 10 such days in a year. The other 355 you had bett take a change of underwear.
Kawhia has a closed bar,Sand, Be warned. the chanel markers that can be seen from off the entrance marking the bar about 2 miles out, are now out of date. If you line them up and cross you will end up on a sand bar.This can only be tackled from the north then swing sout till the markers line again and then straighten up following the markers once inside the bar.There is an alternative entrance from the Albatross point following a shore channel and cuts through what they call the boat channel, this enters the main bar channel only a few 100 yds fron the harbour entrance. This has a dangerous channel that suffers from a cross swell. Only this week two friends narrowly escaped with their lives as the boat was rolled by a cross swell. They ended up on the rocks,wet but alive.I would not suggest this entry as an option. South past Taharoa Bouy where the ironsand is shipped out. A few bays with surf but not recommended. Marokopa, Great place for fishing for kahawhai, like your salmon, but only fools and a few locals take this area on,Kiritihiri has a beach that is safe ti land, but who lives there???. Tirau point where Te Rauparaha holed up for some time has a good bay but it is guarded by a reef that would need to be watched. Just south of Tirau is one of the best little beaches on the west coast calle Waikawau Bay, Entry through a cave in the cliff, if on land. Has a good reef on the south side that breaks up most of the swell. A landable beach but no way to retreave the boat. Awakino , Mokau, Tongaparutu, three rivers within about 10 miles ,next to no boat access, Just south of Tongaparutu is the famous three sister rocks and the white cliffs, High water right to the cliffs. Urenui has a sheltered beach,Good for a holiday and ok for small boats but from there to New Plymouth is only a half hay for these boys so that leaves Port Taranaki. South end breakwater, most swells would come from south west. I wouldnt hesitate to take my 12ft tinny through here anytime. A lovely city with very nice people in it. (I had to say that).I have only lived there once for a year and it rained for six months of that.Grows good grass but. I now love the place and would move back again if the need arose.
Have a nice paddling day, I am late for work.
Robert B

So are we about to see a Nelson welcoming Committee discussion group then???
Just as long as the J's land safely, that is all that matters. I trust you seafarers to sort out the best spot for them, but must say, Nelson is a very lovely destination indeed! Keep going strong boys, you are clearly focused and driven, it must be feeling pretty damn good to be realizing your dream............ and thanks for sharing, it is wonderful to be tracking your progress.

thanks for that budwana, my concerns for these two are genuine and I would not want to be seen as one who knows all. when it gets down to the wire ,local knowledge and input will be worth gold to them.
I hope you get back to your play ground soon. The fishing is still good,if not getting better.
regards,
Robert B

Hey there, New Plymouth looks the place to go for. Great place, nice people. You should spot the mountain from a good distance and the only bar(s) here are the ones you stand at. Look forward to your arrival.

MrB

Campbell, Bev,

Nelson, as of when I posted was not 2 - 300 km extra from Lot 41, probably about 50km to Farewell spit, the first easy place where landing is possible. After that there are numerous other places within Nelson Bay sheltered whatever the wind is.

However the decision appears to be to continue to Manukau now.

Best of luck to them. I hope they can close in on the entrance successfully. I am just concerned that if they get the wrong wind direction, eg N or S on approach, they will get blown past the entrance and along the coast, after which any westerly will smash them onto a dangerous shoreline. They are much less likely to get that problem approaching Nelson Bay.

My Geography is the Southern parts of New Zealand was not one of my good points.And is a little rusty.
Gone past the salvage stage
I hope you will accept My apology
However now that I have run off at the mouth.
I thought I would find out exactly Nelson is.
This site makes it appear an Ideal landing spot.

http://www.nelson.co.nz/
In saying that it is a long way from anywhere for the these guys don't you think?
http://encarta.msn.com/map_701515023/Nelson_(city_New_Zealand).html
Campbell n Bev
tweed Heads

Good luck J and J. Heard the latest news yesterday. All the best for landing in NZ. Leigh

Go with the flow guys don't worry about the New Zealand critics. I think you have done wonders doing what you have done. The trip is your effort and your efforts only what you decide to do and where you decide to land is your choice. even now a lot of people don't know you both but soon they will.
Whilst your out there take a few moments silence in remembrance for Andrew McCauley you guys will truly know what he must have gone through.
Take it easy guys and go with the flow!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Guys
Good luck you are an inspiration to a generation. As a Kiwi I must say I have always admired the tenacious Australian spirit and you two are living proof that this spirit is alive, well and growing. It takes sheer guts and determination to undertake and complete the task you have set yourself. Our thoughts and blessings are with you. ps Try to avoid the sharks if possible!

Hi guys,
I’ve been following progress for a couple of weeks now and thought it about time I jumped in to offer my best wishes. As a transplant from Taranaki I thought I might offer a couple of thoughts on that destination. As has been mentioned, Mt Taranaki is a good land mark that can be see on a clear day well out to sea. There is also the White cliffs to the North of New Plymouth as a good locator There are a number of beaches south of the that, that are landable in reasonable conditions and most will be fairly well populated this time of year. There are also rig and rescue Helicopters operating out of New Plymouth. These service the Kupe oil platform just off the Opunaki coast and land/sea rescue. Most good days there are recreational fishermen running up and down the coast up to 10/15km offshore so the last few k’s into NP you should have plenty of company to guide you in. And just so you feel at home, New Plymouth has it’s own 6 metre Great white, servicing the seal colony just south of the port. ;-)

The port has Customs and MAF facilities that will no doubt need to be attended to, link here. http://www.customs.govt.nz/VisitingCraft/Ports+of+Entry/New+Plymouth.htm and port Taranaki http://www.porttaranaki.co.nz/

This is a link to Kayak Launching spots around the Taranaki coast that may be useful. http://www.kayakfishingclassic.co.nz/maps.html

I have been doing a few rough (back of the envelope) calculations, and for what it’s worth I have Lot 41 302.9km from New Plymouth at 4pm EST and 340.6 from Cornwallis. Distance made good since 8 am EST 15.5km Cornwallis and 24.1 New Plymouth.
The forecast for Raglan for the next 3 days says Northeast wind 15 knots easing to variable 10 knots on Sunday with a 2 metre Southwest swell easing, so it looks like New Plymouth is the place to go.
Not far now, so here’s wishing you the best for the rest of the trip.

good luck landing wherever you end up, boys. I just wish i could travel from the US to get there to greet you guys. Good luck, mates.

Schneids

Loopfinder, welcome aboard the adventure.

By the time you listen to all the podcasts and read the various threads
you'll see there have been many sightings of marine life - whales, dolphins etc,
there was mention of bird life early - not for a while but they would have been
surrounded in shearwaters, gulls, gannets, hopefully albatross and many other species.

the "the 1st across by man powered seacraft" isn't what they're shooting for
it 1st by kayak, but even that , isn't what this is all about.

hope you stick around for the next week.

I am looking forward to welcoming you guys in to New Plymouth later this week! There has been very little surf lately, so you could land on a beach as long as it were low tide. At high tide, the seas come right up to the cliffs, or rocks that protect our coastline. Obviously surf conditions can change, and I see that the swell height is forecast to increase during the week. There is a public "beach" within the port area that seems to be the most obvious and safest landing location.

Keep it going, the last leg will probably be the most difficult mentally.

You must be within sight of Mt Taranaki now, I can not see it at the moment, and I live 15km away. We have had some welcome rain (that came from Australia) and the clouds have not cleared. When they do, you will see the snow tipped peak that will lift your spirits as it grows on the horizon. The rain also means that our rivers will be full and some good kayaking to be had, for the next time you visit!!!

See you soon!

PS. After several days at sea, what food / drink is the one that is craved?
PS. gazanson, the plural of Maori is Maori. We don't have sheeps either :-)

Well fella's , the sea miles are being slowly worn away bit by bit and you are nearly there.
Yes you were right Justin when you said it is the scariest time near the coast as the seas will get much rougher.
It is bad enough fishing in a 7 metre runabout , let alone a low to the water kayak like Lot 41.
I am proud of what you guys have done and proud that 30 years after that kiwi guy Colin Quincey did it that you guys are going to make history being the first across.
Australia and New Zealanders should stand tall and proud together for these fella's.
All the pain, saltwater, winds, aches,and other problems you have had over the last 60 days or so will melt away when you step out onto the sand I think.
Look West and smile.
Keep up the amazing work, you are an inspiration to all Aussies and Kiwi's I think as these forums have shown.
The Race Recon team have done an amazing job as well all the way supporting you guys.
See you in New Plymouth .

Hi All,

I dug up the tide imformation for Port Taranaki for the 13 of January.
(times are NZ Standard Time)
http://www.hydro.linz.govt.nz/tides/majports/pdf/Taranaki/January_2008.pdf
0035 3.2m
0643 0.6m
1251 3.4m
1913 0.6m

So the anticipated landing at 14:57 puts them on an Ebb tide with the beaches getting longer.

What a fantastic effort...well done you guys..am sure the Kiwis will put out a huge welcome mat for you.

J&J, The skies have cleared, so I hope you were able to see the very top of Mt Taranaki today, or at least the clouds that were hanging around it. The weather looks good for the next few days, and the swell subsiding after tomorrow. Consequently, good surf here at the moment. After spending this long at sea, I would imagine that seeing land will be very welcome. *Everyone* I talk to in New Plymouth is well aware of your journey and pending arrival. We love and respect the sea here - most of us have some salt water in our veins.

Stay safe and stay sharp - I look forward to seeing your arrival! You guys are inspirational!

http://www.stuff.co.nz/dailynews/4349550a6002.html and also http://www.stuff.co.nz/dailynews/4349086a6002.html