Due to concerns relating to possible vandalism, the regional parks authorities don't believe making the Tasman Odyssey / Muriwai Ghost Kayak into an attraction for the Muriwai is a good idea. As Van Haresnape (one of the park rangers who recovered the kayak) said, "Muriwai Beach attracts 1.5 Million visitors a year & there are a few who spoil it for the rest..."

So the petition has been closed for these reasons. Due to the logistics & exorbitant costs of returning the Tasman Odyssey Kayak from Muriwai New Zealand back to the Gold Coast Australia, the Kayak will now be put up for sale. The kayak can be resurrected as an Trans Ocean Kayak; it could be used as a mould to make more Trans Ocean Kayaks; it could be used as a display for a marine or tourist attraction or it could be used as a commercial or recreational camping kayak. The kayak comes with a Huge story, a fantastic ocean tested pedigree, a certificate of authenticity & the rights to replicate it. The kayak will be posted on Trade Me & Ebay; proceeds will be split between Nathan Marshall, the Muriwai community (Muriwai Park, Muriwai Surf Club) & Stuart Cleary. Stuart's funds will be spent on building "Kayak Tasman Odyssey 2" for a second attempt at crossing the Tasman sea; to be continued.

On June 1, 2016 the Tasman Odyssey Kayak was found on Muriwai Beach encrusted in barnacles; Nathan Marshall found the intact but unusual find, he posted a picture to the Muriwai Community facebook page asking for ideas on who to contact & through the power of media, "The Ghost Kayak story went viral throughout New Zealand, Australia & beyond..."

It turns out the kayak was abandoned almost 18 months before, 110km directly out of Coffs Harbour, NSW by Stuart Cleary after the rudder had been damaged in heavy seas & the water police had declined to tow the kayak in such dangerous conditions. Stuart had hoped to be the first solo, unassisted kayaker to cross the Tasman Sea, but this was cut short after just 24 hours.

This means the Tasman Odyssey kayak traveled 2,000km from Australia to Muriwai, in 17 months "On it's own, without a rudder or any propulsion!" The kayak achieved the solo crossing without it's crew & chose Muriwai Beach, "just 25km from Manukau Harbour where the original expedition was set to end."

The kayak was designed & built by Cleary, to withstand 10 - 15meter waves & after 18months crossing the Tasman Sea on it's own, it must have encountered these sea states, only to wash up through the notoriously big surf of Muriwai Beach.

Stuart Cleary was contacted & confirmed the kayak was Tasman Odyssey & then the media from around New Zealand, Australia & Assoc Press USA picked up the story & captured the imagination of millions of people.

The Ghost Kayak, Tasman Odyssey, is the Kayak that Can, the Kayak that did it on it's own & wanted to call MURIWAI BEACH home!

Local, Lisa-May Wallace, suggested the Kayak be made into an attraction at Muriwai Beach, "maybe near the Sand Dunz Cafe, where all the locals & visitors meet up..." The Cafe was contacted & Kathy said "how about in the park where they weigh the Marlin, everyone will see it on their way to the beach."

Stuart is happy to donate the Tasman Odyssey Kayak & would like it to be "an interactive attraction;" "I would like people to be able to sign the kayak & leave words of inspiration, before they take a picture with the kayak."

As far as Cleary knows, Tasman Odyssey is the ONLY kayak ever to have accomplished a planned ocean crossing expedition, through the planned route & land almost exactly where the expedition had planned to land, without a crew of any sort.

Please sign the petition in MURIWAI BEACH so that people can be inspired by an incredible journey with an fantastic story of endurance & circumstance.

The kayak is being used for scientific research to see what information can be gathered from its incredible journey & Cleary has offered to help clean the kayak up before handing it over to the regional parks authorities.