4m swells just one test for kayaker

Tauranga kayaker Tim Taylor. Photo / APN

A 24-year-old wine-maker has paddled 800km in his record attempt to be the first person to circumnavigate New Zealand by kayak.

Tim Taylor had a day of rest in Napier this week after his first two weeks out at sea since setting off in Tauranga.

He has already faced 4m swells and was turned back on his first attempt at rounding East Cape.

"Sometimes, when you get a chop on the top [of a swell], you hold on and hope for the best," Mr Taylor said.

"It's been pretty exposed. It was scary but you have to concentrate on doing the job. You can't get scared because that's when the accidents happen."

Mr Taylor will continue across Cook Strait, around Stewart Island, up to Cape Reinga, and hopes to be back in Tauranga about March.

"I question why I've done it sometimes, but you find out what you can handle," he said.

"I haven't quite figured out the proper reason myself, but it's been a dream of mine for a long time."

Mr Taylor paddles up to 14 hours in one day, and on those days he returns to shore "smashed".

"The first half is all good. It's sweet. When you start getting to eight, 10 hours, it's like, 'Oh, my God'. You get 'get-home-itis', and you keep checking how far it is and your mind starts playing tricks on you."

Mr Taylor began training for his trip last Christmas and gathered sponsors to have sophisticated tracking systems on board.

His website updates his location every 10 minutes - which only adds to his family's anxiety, as they check on him six times every hour.

"Stewart Island and Fiordland will be big," Mr Taylor said.

"They're isolated so safety is a long way off. Hopefully I get to those at the height of summer."

There have been tough days, but kayaking was his joy and he would not stop until he got to Tauranga again, he said.

"It's the freedom. You're in control of what you do. Everything is your decision and judgment."

Mr Taylor's kayak can carry up to two weeks of food at a time, and he spends most nights camped in a tent.