Trans Tasman Kayakers Finally Make It To N.z.

[mrmoshe]

'You guys rock': kayakers complete epic crossing

"Thank you so much New Zealand - you guys rock."

Those were the first words spoken by emotional Australian kayakers Justin Jones and James Castrission after wading ashore at end their marathon two-month crossing of the Tasman Sea.

More than 10,000 cheering onlookers watched as the pair paddled to Ngamotu Beach inside Port Taranaki. At 12.20pm they stopped paddling and sat about 10 metres off the shore as a local kapa haka group treated them to a rousing welcoming haka.

Supporting each other, they gingerly stood up from their seats to cheers of "Go Aussies!" from the massive crowd.

Then they jumped into the waist-deep water and, arm-in-arm, they waded ashore for a tearful reunion with waiting family.

"This feels bizarre - I can hardly walk," said Castrission after stumbling at one stage before he could reach his family.

And when asked by the Taranaki Daily News what their first thoughts were on finally landing, Justin Jones said "Thank you so much New Zealand - you guys rock."

Addressing the crowd a few minutes later the pair expressed their thanks to the people of Taranaki for their support over the last few days.

"Thanks Taranaki - you kept us going," said Jones.

The crowd reacted by breaking into song, roaring out a huge rendition of Waltzing Matilda.

The crowding is so severe that authorities have been forced to close all road entrances to the port - forcing onlookers to foot it to the kayak's landing point, Ngamotu Beach.

But they are still pouring to the scene. Several thousand people are waiting at the beach, and many more are lining the lee breakwater at the port's entrance.

"It's absolutely huge - the place is crammed with people," says Taranaki Daily News reporter Leighton Keith, who was aboard a boat following Justin Jones, 24, and James Castrission, 25, as they made their way to the finish.

Small boats, yachts, kayaks, surf club IRBs, coastal vessels, and even the Port Taranaki tugs joined a flotilla that accompanied the pair to the finish - with the tugs are adding to the festive atmosphere by spraying water into the air from their fire-fighting hoses.

"There are lots of video cameras out, helicopters overhead. It's all developing into something special," Keith said.

Jones and Castission paddled all yesterday until 1am today, then slept for two hours before picking up the paddles again at dawn today for their final run to shore.

Before they started their adventure they had hoped Sir Edmund Hillary would greet them on their arrival, but were told he was too sick.

Expedition spokesman Tom Mitchell said the pair were gutted to hear of Sir Ed's death on Friday, but were used it as inspiration to paddle without rest until their arrival.

Taranaki Daily News

[mrsswordfisherman]

Great stuff isn't it.

I have been watching the journey and sent a big "good onya" from all the "yakking raiders" on their facebook page.

Sir Edmund would have been proud of them I am sure.

Cheers mrsswordfisherman

[arpie]

And so say all for us!!

Terrific to hear they got there safely - so glad they sent a greeting party out to paddle in with them! As I understand it, they are the only ones to have done it from Aussie to NZ. A Kiwi guy did it on his own in the 80's (maybe 90's ...we saw his yak in a museum in the late 90s in Northland NZ) & now the bunch of 4 also from NZ to Aussie ..... but no-one else from Aussie to NZ!

Well done!!!

Roberta