Ginger Gibbs, well known Auckland mariner, was a man who didn't appear to learn from hardship. After swearing he'd never do it again after achieving the record last year for the run between the Sydney and Auckland harbour bridges, he and his crew had planned another bone crunching challenge.

Fate struck Ginger a final blow on the morning of January 17th, when he suffered a fatal heart attack. His crew though, have determined to continue the challenge in Ginger's honour.

04 December 2006

By Lane Nichols (Dominion Post www.stuff.co.nz)

A "gutted" Papakowhai boatie is heartbroken after his $300,000 launch ran aground and sank during a fishing trip southwest of Pukerua Bay, Wellington.

The Dominion Post. Monday, October 23, 2006

Mana Coastguard was called to help tow a stranded boatie at 5.45pm yesterday after the seven-metre launch Astrolab experienced engine problems just north of Mana Island.

NZ Police News Release http://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/2719.html

11:40pm 18 October 2006

Search and Rescue specialists have found a man safe and well after he went missing on his boat while diving with a friend off Titahi Bay.

Sergeant Jo Holden, Wellington Police Search and Rescue, said the alarm was raised after one of the men surfaced at 6.30pm from his second dive for kina to find that his friend and their 14ft fibreglass boat had disappeared.