A Nelson paddle boarder has become the first Kiwi to paddle across the Cook Strait – on a rescue board.
Britt Spencer, a volunteer surf lifesaver, took four hours and eight minutes to complete the 22km journey across the stretch of water that joins the South Island with the North.
"There were a lot of happy tears and I just had to take a moment on the beach and soak it all in. I'm just so proud of myself and my team for doing this," she said.
It's a feat five months in the making – Spencer spent hours on the water each day getting used to the powerful tides and strong winds.
Though today, she conceded, "you couldn't have picked a better day".
"The main challenge was I had a jellyfish sting an hour into the paddle which wasn't ideal," she said.
"I was in the pain pit for the last quarter of the paddle so working through that [was also tough]."
Spencer's "why" provided plenty of motivation – her history-making paddle doubled as a fundraiser for her Nelson Surf Lifesaving club.
"I've been a member for forever and we so desperately need a club house, we need a home – somewhere fit for purpose so we can continue to save lives," she said.
A Givealittle page set up by Spencer has already raised more than $10,000.
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