Marathon jet skier keen to avoid logs
Lindsay Warner dodged Australian crocodiles, and recently battled to cross Cook Strait, but it is wayward logs worrying him as he resumes his jet ski mission around New Zealand.
Halfway through his bid to become the first person to circumnavigate both islands solo on a jet ski, he set out again from Wellington’s Seaview Marina today for the 175km leg to Castlepoint on the Wairarapa Coast.
The South Island leg was completed in 15 days, nine of which were on the water. Warner said the highlight was seeing ‘‘huge’’ numbers of penguins, and enjoying the beauty of Doubtful Sound.
Cyclone Hale resulted in large numbers of logs washing on to beaches across the East Coast. Warner is expecting to see logs in the ocean – and if he hits one at 35kph, the impact will be severe.
He said he was planning to be extra careful in that area.
‘‘I have hit a piece of wood on a previous trip, but you have to watch all the time. You can’t afford to stargaze.’’
In 2021, the 64-year-old Australian was the first person to circumnavigate Australia on a jet ski. It took him 89 days, covering 15,000km.
Around the South Island, he encountered albatrosses, Hector dolphins and penguins. The dolphins were inquisitive but at the speed he travelled, they were unable to surf in his wave.
Cook Strait was his biggest
challenge. Relying on a hand-held navigation system, in a 3m rolling swell and showers, was not easy. His navigation system was not working, and he had to use Brothers Island as a landmark as he tried to avoid large waves.
Having repaired his navigation system, he is looking forward to the North Island leg, which he expects will take about nine days on the water.
Going around Cape Reinga offers him the unique opportunity of going from the Pacific Ocean to the Tasman Sea.