Coastguard Mana coordinated the on-water support of the kayak and waka ama legs of the Porirua Grand Traverse multi-sport event. We provided CRV Pelorus [2] and a jetski to work alongside other rescue vessels from Titahi Bay Boating Club and Wellington Rowing Association in monitoring paddlers while they travelled from Whitireia Polytech, under the bridges and then back again.
Conditions on the day were COLD with ~20kt southerly winds gusting to 30kt at times when cold squalls and showers came ripping through from the hills. There were some rather chilly boat crews out there this year. There were a number of capsizes due to the choppy conditions caused by the gusty wind conditions.
The Toyota Prado [3] was also used as a radio relay up on the top of the hills looking over the west coast for the run leg.