A NEW Zealander’s plan to paddle across the Tasman Sea has been abandonded after two hiccups.
Scott Donaldson reluctantly cancelled his bid to paddle from Port Macquarie to New Zealand on Tuesday after he was forced to bail out water from his sea kayak just hours into the trip.
It was the 43-year-old’s second start at crossing the Tasman.
Mr Donaldson originally started his trip on Anzac Day from Coffs Harbour, but had to paddle back to Port Macquarie after his satellite phone got wet in a leaking bag.
Yesterday he said the voyage had been called off this year, but did not rule out a future attempt.
“It’s disappointing, but I wasn’t going to take any risks,” he said.
“I’m grateful for everyone’s support.”
The solo 2000km-plus trip would have taken Mr Donaldson the best part of two months to complete.
Should he have made it to the Taranaki coast as intended, Mr Donaldson would have been the first person to make a solo trans-Tasman crossing by kayak.
He was to have no support crew and planned on using his small desalination plant on board to keep up his water supply.
The trans-Tasman crossing was first completed by Australian kayak duo Justin Jones and James Castrission in 2007.
In the same year, Australian Andrew McAuley was within a day of completing the crossing solo when he capsized and drowned 65 kilometres off Fiordland. His body was never found.
