Men drive van across Cook Strait
By BLAIR ENSOR - The Marlborough Express
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Two men's attempt to cross Cook Strait in a van has ended successfully.
Aeronautic machinists Adam Turnbull and Dan Melling made the news late last month after converting their Toyota van - called "Roofliss" - into an amphibian vessel.
The two left Waikawa marina under the shroud of darkness at 6am, heading out toward the northern entrance of the Marlborough Sounds.
They entered Cook Strait at about 10.20am and decided to sail around the northern side of Mana Island on their approach to Wellington to avoid choppy conditions to the south.
They finally made landfall just before 4pm.
Conditions throughout the journey have been good, and the van was joined by several dolphins.
Responding to earlier doubters about the viability of their attempt, Dan Melling said, "Not many people would have taken a van across the Strait, so until you do you don't know, do you?"
- with Stuff.co.nz
See the vehicle's last warm-up outing:
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You Kiwis don't get out much, eh? The Cubans have been doing this for years using dilapidated vehicles, little money, and with the added risks of illegal border crossings. Plus, it's about twice as far from Cuba to Florida as it is across Cook Straight.
Who has more ingenuity?
New Zealand, a country so full of ingenuity that people get excited at someone reinventing the amphibious vehicle but so lacking in common sense that they allow their population to get measles, and vaccinate after the event. NZ, A place where workplace sinks do not have overflows. Another example of Kiwi ingenuity is the Cave creek disaster where a viewing platform collpased killing 20 people partly due to the fact that nails were used to secure the platform instead of bolts (as intended by the design), because an appropriate drill had not been taken to the building site. NZ needs to wake up and realise that holding things together with bits of wire and other scrap metal and wood is not the way out of its lamentable standards of productivity. The sign at Auckland airport should read "welcome to NZ, where the local time is twelve hours ahead of Europe but don't forget to wind your calendar back to the 1930s"
Its good to see people trying random things out there, even if it is inspired by Top Gear. I dont really think 2 mates with a Metal Mulisha sticker on the side of there matte black van are too converned about wearing life jackets in a interview.
From a kiwi living in Brisvegas.
Good on you boys. You brought small tears of pride to my eyes. You are both legends.
Ronan
It's no different, just a small way for Kiwis to feel special
#49, I suppose its not any different, but hey, when it's a world first (and completely bizzare!), and created by some Kiwis, why not call it Kiwi ingenuity. I suppose it is just being proud of where we come from, and what we can do. I guess alot of people will see that as arrogance though.......
Marian (#36), lighten up mate!! Geez, who is going to look to these guys for water safety tips! Just a couple of young crazies having a go and doing something random. Anybody who is going to look at them and take water safety tips is in more trouble than before they see this anyway....Good on you boys! O for AWESOME.
@me # 52. sorry, meant to write 'Freddo'!
@ Freddy #47 Why not? Because its different and because you can, and because it makes a great story to tell in the retirement home.
Good on these guys for doing this, although like others I was a bit disappointed at the drinking and lack of lifejackets in the TV interview mid straight. Bit of cool / not cool there!
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Yo! Cheers to all those proud Kiwis out there! You can recognise a good laugh. It's funny seeing some of the negative nigels battle it out here. Haha you guys are great fun. John Foster #60 sounds like he needs a trip to Cuba.