The team of surf lifeguards celebrating the centennial anniversary of Surf Life Saving New Zealand by circumnavigating the country in an inflatable rescue boat landed for a short stop at Ripiro Beach, Dargaville.
The team arrived around 5.15pm on Friday. Due to the good conditions they refuelled then pushed on to
Muriwai after a half hour stop.
Local surf lifeguards from the Baylys Beach Surf Lifeguard Club met them on the beach.
The crew of six left Auckland Viaduct on Wednesday, overnighting at the Whangarei Heads and Maitai Bay for the first two legs of their epic journey.
Operating on an interchange basis, with only four in the water at one time, the Baylys Beach section of Ripiro Beach was the first pitstop after Ahipara earlier in the day.
Baylys Beach instructor Laree Furniss said the good conditions had allowed the team to cover more than 400 kilometres in one day and put them ahead of schedule.
They arrived in Muriwai around 12.47am.
The voyage is expected to take 40 days and will be the first time a full circumnavigation - including North, South and Stewart Islands - of New Zealand has been completed in a craft less than 4m in length.
It will consist of 32 legs - the longest stretch is from Fiordland around Stewart Island to Bluff.
The operation includes six lifeguards and one reserve, a safety manager, mechanic, doctor and land-based support person.
For safety reasons, two IRBs will be on the water to at all times and tracking equipment is installed on the two vessels.
