Kayak washes up in muriwai beach

On Sunday, December 7, 2014 Mr Cleary paddled out of Ballina in New South Wales. His plan had been to do a 15,000km solo-kayak oceanic circumnavigation of the Tasman Sea. But that plan changed with the currents, which Mr Cleary said were perfect for an attempt at being the first solo kayaker to cross the Tasman Sea to New Zealand. About five hours into his expedition, however, he said he encountered five-metre waves and was having problems with the sea anchor, and the GPS communicator. "Then I had problems with my rudder," he said. "I tried to make it back to the east coast [of Australia] and about a hundred-and-something kilometres out of Coffs Harbour I was picked up by a police boat, and because the waves were still up around three metres at the time, they wouldn't tow the kayak." Now, 18 months later, that same kayak has washed up in Muriwai Beach in NZ. Mr Cleary was informed that his kayak had been found and he couldn’t believe it. ‘ Wow! Holy Smoke! I was woken up to amazing news!!! My kayak, Tasman Odyssey, has been found... in New Zealand on Muriwai Beach. Absolutely incredible that she stayed afloat for the past 18mths alone at sea... I had to abandon the Kayak 110km out from Coffs Harbour, NSW. I’m amazed the kayak was able to withstand the force of Tasman storms for that time! The emergency flotation & the rudder are missing, but everything else appears to be intact...under a substantial newly acquired barnacle farm. I was only telling my wife the other day that I would like to try again... as it feels like an unfinished project. Thanks to Nathan Marshall for finding the kayak today, much appreciated.”