Sealegs To Attempt Cook Strait Speed Record

Sealegs To Attempt Cook Strait Crossing Speed Record

Sealegs International Ltd today announced plans to set a record crossing of Cook Strait next month by an amphibious vehicle.

Sealegs Chief Executive David McKee Wright confirmed the record attempt of the 22kms stretch of water will be made going in a South to North direction. The crossing attempt has been set down for October 30 or 31 with the exact day to be determined by sea and weather conditions.

Mr McKee Wright believes this will be the first ever recorded record crossing of Cook Strait by an amphibious boat. "In fact we've done a search and can find no record time listed for any pleasure craft", he says. "So it may even set the record point-to-point crossing of Cook Strait by any outboard powered boat."

For the record attempt, Sealegs will use its new-generation 7.1m Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), which can comfortably seat up to 8 adults and has a payload of 700kg. It is capable of speeds approaching 80kms in flat conditions and is expected the crossing will be completed in less than 30mins.

Back in 2005, a Sealegs 5.6m RIB driven by company founder Maurice Bryham staked its place in the Guinness Book of Records when it shattered the England Channel record mark for an amphibious vehicle completing the 21 nautical miles from Dover to Calais in 43mins 12secs. This halved the previous record of 1hr 40mins 6secs set a year earlier by UK entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.

ENDS