Tachyon Hutt, 18, says he knew what he was doing on the water. Photo / Supplied
If you heard about Tachyon Hutt's voyage across Cook Strait from a mate at the pub, you would be forgiven for thinking it was too outlandish to be true.
And although it sounds like something you might read in a Barry Crump novel, it truly happened and, despite rumours online, it was not for a Tinder date.
The 18-year-old was the talk of the nation last week after his motorised dinghy broke down off the Mana Coast after crossing Cook Strait overnight.
Hutt set off from Kenepuru Sound, in the centre of the Marlborough Sounds, at 10pm on Wednesday bound for Porirua. He nearly made it.
"It wasn't really much of a rescue, it was more of a tow-in to save my energy."
The conditions on the water were not great for a dinghy, MetService said, with winds of up to 20 knots - around 40km/h.
The swell was almost non-existent, only about 1m, but the conditions got a bit rough in patches, Hutt told police last week.
Although the Strait could be a dangerous stretch of water, Hutt would not be fussed to make the journey again.
He revealed he was making the journey for personal family reasons.
"I was on a mission and nothing was going to stop me; it was for family and it had to be done. I had to find my brother," he said.
"I just had to do it and all the family up here I've got are calling me a hero for doing it, now that they know why but I can't say, sorry."
Starting at Kenepuru Sound, Hutt travelled through Pelorus Sound and made a beeline for the Mana Coast on the North Island.
Two fishing rods were on the back of the boat but Hutt said there was no time to stop to drop a line.
Wellington Maritime Police Senior Sergeant Dave Houston told the Herald last week Hutt's journey was the perfect example of what not to do on the water.
Michael-Paul Abbott, Maritime NZ central region compliance manager, said issues were raised about the vessel's seaworthiness.
Investigators thought the wooden dinghy was unsuitable for a voyage across Cook Strait, he said, which was "one of our most unforgiving stretches of water".
Hutt would not have to foot the bill for the rescue and, at this stage, he would not be facing any charges either.