The event starts deep inside haunting Rikoriko Cave - the largest sea cave in the Southern Hemisphere - and crosses tumultuous seas to one of New Zealand's most scenic coastline havens, Tutukaka Harbour.
Event organiser Tim Eves says the idea of a downwind dash from Poor Knights has been germinating since he began paddling the Tutukaka coast 15 years ago.
"It got serious after I rounded up a couple of mates and we got on board one of the dive boats to get out there. The whole experience left us in awe - Rikoriko Cave, the rock archways, the sea life, it was all gobsmacking. We started the paddle back and the seed was planted."
Eves watched his inaugural event get smashed to pieces by a weather bomb on the start-line last year.
"We learned some ... lessons when the race fleet was greeted with 40 knot winds and 6m seas last year.
"What we thought were robust systems needed to be upgraded even further and we have set about doing that.
"Safety is always paramount, but the appetite from the paddlers for a chance to test themselves in big water has been a big factor in our discussions since last year's race."
The organising team have devised five course options that will allow competitors to race in any wind direction, but all efforts will be made to stage the event over the Poor Knights to Tutukaka (or reverse) course.
Applications to compete will be accepted at the race directors' discretion, after a rigorous vetting process. Only experienced open ocean paddlers will be allowed to race.
A fleet of boats provided by Dive! Tutukaka have been adapted to ferry paddlers and their craft to the start line and will accompany the racers on their journey back to Tutukaka.
Garth Spencer runs Pacific Ocean Paddlers and will line up in the surf ski category. He is excited about the calibre of athletes signed up for the Poor Knights Crossing.
"Tim has a good strong field showing already, with the likes of multiple-world champion Dean Gardiner, and our own Rachel Clarke who is leading the 2015 World Series.
"We have a good chance of great conditions and multiple course options. This is going to be a great piece of world-class true blue ocean downwind racing."
Eves doesn't downplay the extreme nature of the event.
"It is a long stretch of water back to the mainland. I've been out there in conditions that are quite mind- blowing - there are ramps of waves lined up and they just keep coming. On the scale of ocean paddles the distance doesn't seem that momentous - but when you're out there it dawns on you just how insignificant we are."
Local waka ama paddler Richard Pehi agrees that navigation is a big challenge in ocean paddling events.
"You can get caught up in the moment and focus on what's happening in front of you, not what's happening in the distance.
"Off the coast, it can be difficult to identify waypoints visually. In just two minutes you can get a long way off course, especially in big seas. And most of us look for big conditions," he laughs.
Pehi and many other paddlers use a GPS device with pre-loaded waypoints to assist navigation and will rely on the safety boats to keep them on track.
"Most of the serious paddlers have paddled in the Pacific Islands so will be looking for beautiful swells and big winds. A northeasterly wind with an easterly swell over a metre will be just perfect," he says.
Eves has worked hard to foster a sense of community and local ownership around the event and even the prizes reflect this, including the Poor Knights lily (raupo taranga, xeronema - a plant unique to the islands) and work by local artist Steve Moase.
The event coincides with the Tutukaka Winter Festival which runs through to September 6.
Poor Knights
What: 30km downwind open ocean paddle
When: Saturday, September 5
Where: Tutukaka, Northland
For more information: Click here.
