Well, what shall I write? There’s almost too much going on! There were so many people wishing me well: in person, via e-mail, on blog comments or on the phone! I would like to thank everybody again for the moral and practical support. I’ll answer all of your most welcome e-mails shortly!here (thanks to Derrick Mayoleth for uploading the file).

I finished my trip on Wednesday 2nd, 3.15 pm, after a 32-hour leg of of 165 km. (Might as well save the hardest for last)… In fact, I had originally planned to finish with an 85 km crossing of Tasman Bay. But the forecast for the next two days inspired me since the winds were supposed to be even stronger and I didn’t want to wait any longer to finish such a long journey. Viola! I decided to launch from Okiwi Bay!

French Pass would have been even better and would have saved another day, but it would have been just such a loooooooong drive to get out there…I was grateful that Bevan Walker was willing to spontaneously drive me out to Okiwi Bay the night before I set out, especially after he just endured a long day of work. Thanks again to Bevan!

To add even a bit more icing on this big wet cake, the final crossing started at 10pm after I had already paddled 80 km in 15 hours. The night paddle ended up adding another 17.5 hours to this challenging 165 km leg.

Here are some key statistics on my trip:

Thirty years after Paul Caffyn’s became the first person to circumnavigate the South Island alone, unsupported and continuously, I became  the first woman to do so — and just the third person ever.

Days: 70 total — the fastest solo circumnavigation ever. I managed 48 paddling for an average of approx. 50 km per paddling day. This is the fastest solo circumnavigation ever.

Distance: 2386 km total.

What an amazing experience and finish! The previous day’s scenery was the best of my whole trip, one lovely remote sandy beach besides the next, between rocks shaped in an endless row of caves and arches. I was able to paddle through three of the biggest arches on New Years day, which I suppose brings luck to me! The swell was low that day, and I could have landed anywhere without much trouble in the surf.

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