Friends wait to greet kayaker

Scott Donaldson at sea.

Former Rotorua athletes and friends of transtasman kayaker Scott Donaldson are tracking his every move to make sure they are in New Plymouth for his arrival.

Donaldson is now expected to make landfall on Saturday after strong easterly winds pushed him back from the Taranaki coastline. When he does finish he will be the first person to kayak solo across the Tasman Sea.

The 44-year-old from Rotorua has coached a number of people in the city and car-loads of people are getting ready to welcome him back to New Zealand.

"There's a lot of anticipation," said Sarah Pitcher-Campbell, who was coached by Donaldson for XTERRA in 2009.

"Most of us are or have been members of Rats [Rotorua Association of Triathletes and Multisport]. Scott has been influential to us either as a coach, masseuse or friend.

"We see what he's doing and it puts it into perspective what we're doing. If he can do this then I can train for Ironman.

"I think it's going to be amazing to be there.

"Scott is a very strong person. Most people wouldn't even begin paddling."

One person who won't be at the celebration is Guy Nelson. He has been coached by Donaldson for three Ironman races and the ITU Age Group World Long Course Triathlon Championships.

Nelson will instead be receiving treatment for brain cancer, which he said had been mitigated by the skills Donaldson had instilled in him as part of the Ironman training.

"Scott is a key individual who gave me a bunch of skills that have helped me be here today," Mr Nelson said.

"He's had a major impact. He has a really good ability at teaching mental skills and mental strength. Those tools he taught me for applying in long distance triathlon racing have come into play and are very much in the forefront of my battle. I'd love to see him come in; I feel I owe him a huge amount."

He said Donaldson's wife, Sarah, should also receive some recognition for the support she gave to her husband's pursuits.

"As an adult you have your demons from time to time and quite often that can be brought up around the coffee table. Being a wife she bears the brunt of that - Sarah is a vital ingredient in this feat."