List of Cook Strait crossings by sea

This is a list of notable crossings of the Cook Strait by sea.

First crossings Date Crossing Participant(s) Craft Departure point Arrival point Notes First steamship SS Clio North IslandPicton First canoe George Parkes and James Parkes 2 x Rob Roy-style canoes Mana IslandPicton Both canoes were fitted with lug sails. First canoe (solo) H.V. Shearman Rob Roy-style canoe Paremata, PoriruaPicton Also sail-assisted. Shearman was 16 years old. First kayak Irvin Openshaw self-built kayak Mākara BeachPerano Head, Arapaoa Island Crossing took 5 hours, 15 minutes. First waterskiers Wayne Davidson, Gordon Hanna, and Michael Taylor Waterskis Mākara BeachThe Brothers Rocks The three skiers were towed behind two boats. First windsurfers Grant Beck, Susie Gibbs and Chris Wylie 3 x windsurfers Cape TerawhitiTory Channel Crossing was the subject of a short documentary by Sam Neill. First surf ski Alexander McKenzie Surf ski North IslandSouth Island While accompanying younger sister Meda McKenzie on her first swim across Cook Strait. First rower John Argue Skiff AnakiwaPetone, Lower Hutt Total distance rowed was . First surf ski (double crossing) Alexander McKenzie Surf ski North IslandSouth Island While accompanying sister Meda on her double swim across Cook Strait. South IslandNorth Island Smallest yacht Gavin Brady P-class sailing dinghy Mana IslandPicton Dinghy was long. Gavin was 12 years old, and escorted on the crossing by his parents' trimaran. First hovercraft Stephen Preest Self-built hovercraft PictonPlimmerton First crossing and double crossing.PlimmertonPicton Fastest amphibious vehicle David McKee Wright and Brendon Hodge Sealegs 6.1m Sport RIB Arapaoa Island, Marlborough SoundsŌwhiro Bay, Wellington Made the voyage in 47 minutes. First van Adam Turnbull and Dan Melling Roofliss Waikawa, MarlboroughMana, Porirua The converted 1990 4WD Toyota Tarago van could reach speeds of . Fastest crossing Warren Lewis and Chris Hanley NZ1 Skater catamaran WellingtonPicton Passage took 1 hour, 33 minutes. The offshore powerboat was fitted with two engines. First kite foilers Justin Groblar and Brian Walters Kite foils Mākara BeachPerano HeadFirst crossing and double crossing. Perano HeadMākara Beach First hydrofoil bike Hayden Reeves Manta5 Hydrofoiler XE-1 South IslandNorth Island Hybrid powered hydrofoil. First rower (double crossing) Pam Dickson Rowing scull Mākara BeachPerano Head Dickson had previously swum Cook Strait. Perano HeadOteranga Bay First prone paddleboarder Brittany Spencer Paddleboard Waikawa, MarlboroughOhau Point, Wellington Journey took four hours, eight minutes.

References

See also List of Cook Strait crossings by air