KEY POINTS:
Bad weather has slowed the progress of the two Australian adventurers attempting a record-setting kayak journey across the Tasman Sea.
James Castrission, 25, and Justin Jones, 24, were yesterday 110km from New Plymouth, having paddled more than 3100km since setting out from Forster, 300km north of Sydney, on November 13.
Choppy seas have pushed back their expected arrival on Sunday morning to the evening.
"The weather isn't exactly perfect, but they're hopefully still on target for a Sunday arrival in New Plymouth," said spokesman Tom Mitchell.
"With a bit of luck on our side, the weather may just settle down over the next day or two and the boys make some progress, and get there nicely on time."
The pair were in good spirits when Mr Mitchell spoke to them yesterday.
"The guys have spent three years to get across the Tasman. Now that it's coming to an end, they're starting to think that there's a world out there other than water and kayaking.
"I think they're starting to realise that there's going to be life after crossing the Ditch."
In a podcast from their custom-built kayak on Wednesday, Mr Jones spoke of seeing birdlife as they neared the coast.
"It's a good feeling on the kayak at the moment. We're dead tired physically and mentally but we're happy."
Media crews had flown out to film them. "It really made us think that New Zealand really is just over the horizon.
"We're going to be able to do all those things that we've just been dreaming of doing for the past 58 days ... the list just [goes] on and on."
He also pondered the prospect of turning up on New Zealand shores without any money.
"It's possible that we're the first boat people of 2008 to New Zealand, and I really hope we don't end up in a detention camp."
