N E L S O N M A I L S T O R Y


Mitchell to surf the strait
11 November 2004


Nelson kitesurfing instructor Warren Mitchell aims to be the first person to kitesurf across Cook Strait.

Weather permitting, Mr Mitchell, 30, will attempt the 33km crossing from Arapawa Island in the eastern Marlborough Sounds to Makara, west of Wellington on Friday.

"People have kayaked it and swum it, but I haven't heard of anybody kitesurfing it," he said.

The crossing was dependent on a north-westerly wind and conditions out in the strait. Mr Mitchell was to be accompanied by a support boat chosen for its ability to keep up with him.

He believed he could complete the distance in about an hour if he surfed at a rate of between 15 and 20 knots - or 28-37kmh.

"It's going to be hard work, mentally and physically."

Mr Mitchell planned to travel to Arapawa Island on Thursday and wait for the right "window of wind" on Friday or Saturday.

If the conditions were right, fellow kitesurfing instructor Wiebke Bode might accompany him.

Mr Mitchell had been kitesurfing for five years and instructing for four years. He had been preparing for the crossing over the winter, researching the tides, winds and the sort of support boat required.

"I'm a bit nervous, it's quite a big thing to put together," he said.

"It's a rough stretch of water. It could be bouncy and quite dangerous, but those are the dangers.

"If it gets too scary, I can let it go and get picked up by the safety boat."

Mr Mitchell said an aim of the crossing was to promote the sport and his kitesurfing school, Kitescool, based at Marahau and Atawhai.

AdvertisementAdvertisementKitesurfing has had a following in New Zealand for about six years. Three-time women's world champion Cindy Mosey lives in Nelson
WINDSWEPT: Nelson kitesurfers Warren Mitchell and Wiebke Bode are planning an attempt on Cook Strait.
MARION VAN DIJK/Nelson Mail

Good on Ya. A lot of people have talked about it, would be good to see some action!

So when is it planned for? Hope we get to see some footage of it too!

Happy kiting

Su

Hi Fear..

Where did you get that info from?
I had a look on the NZHERALD site and there was no write up about this event, only the painted apple moth.

Has any one done the crossing by windsurfer?

Best of luck to Warren Mitchell !!

I hope some one is going to document the event with some footage.

Hi Madness,

Look here:

www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/nelsonmail/0,,0a6007,00.html

Cheers

Su

Found it..

stuff.co.nz/stuff/nelsonmail/0,2106,3093571a6007,00.html

Soundz awesome! Wish I was down south so I could join in. Go the Nelsonites!

Has anyone kited to Rarotonga before? Hhhhhmmmm I wonder...

Best of luck Warren, hope the wind blows and the seas are kind to you! Be wicked if Wiebke can join you too! look forward to hearing all about it

We left Nelson Thursday afternoon aboard Novola Nove a 53 foot launch with a top speed of 26 knots on board we had a dedicated support crew, camera man, legend crayfish diver, ex Cook Straight fisherman and weather advisor and the boats Capitan. We spent the night at DUrville Is Wilderness caf and the support crew did lots of supporting. A 6.00am start saw us in position early Friday morning at the edge of the Cook Straight. The weather forecast was for NW 20 Knots perfect.
We had hoped to do the crossing Friday morning but early in the morning there was hardly any wind. To give you an idea how calm it was: we were sitting in the middle of Cook Straight boiling water in a Wok on the BBQ to cook Crayfish. It was unreal! We kept checking the wind and it seemed like it was picking up in the afternoon.so we turned around and went back to the South Island and launched our kites. Warren went in first and for a while it looked really good. 15knots and picking upit would have been perfect! However the wind dropped soon after Wiebkes kite was up in the air and all the hopes for the current to be strong enough to keep us going were gone when the wind dropped off to absolutely nothing. Thanks to our awesome support crew we were out of the water in no time and motored across to Wellington. We tied up to the wharves in front of Shed 5 and the support crew supported until the sun came up.
Saturday morning looked wicked a NW wind was blowing down the harbor and the marine forecast was for N 20 knots rising to 30 knots but as we rounded the bottom of the North Island and headed up the coast the wind had dropped to 2 knots. We waited all day for it to come up as the wind stations measured 15+knots and the forecast was 20-30 knots but it didnt happen. It must be a myth that the Straight is one of the roughest ones in the world!.Of course, we were disappointed as the whole idea involved quite a bit of planning, but we had an awesome time on board the Novola Nove. And big thanks to everyone who supported us and no doubt we will have another go, Warren + Wiebke. Kitescool.