Marine Masochists - Why?

I just do not get people like these.

I have nothing against adventure, but what is it that motivates people to do nutty things like row from New Zealand to Australia. Only 31 days and 2,000 kilometres.

"Pain you can manage," Mr Gates said.

"Our medical kit was designed to get you through.

"The fact that everyone is still walking today is testimony to some of the drugs in that medical kit, but it's the mental toughness when you're stuck in that rear cabin."

Eleven metre seas and massive storms forced the crew of two men and two women to shelter in the 3m x 1.8m cabin early in the journey.

"When you're stuck in there for four days with three people, you've got condensation running down the walls, everything's wet, you're wet, nothing's dry and there's no room, so if one person moves they kick the other person in the head - that's pretty tough," Mr Gates said.

As well as the storms, Mr Gates said the four rowers encountered sharks, whales, pods of dolphins and narrowly avoided a collision with a ship.

As we speak another couple of people are kayaking the other way.

Hello. This is the season of crass consumerism. How is this kind of behaviour propping up the Antipodean Economy.

Based on my own experience of kayaking, that would be a pretty boring trip. I think that I will stick with tedious reruns and unpacking boxes.