Going for the world-record longest unassisted staged swim ever – he’s also logged more than 400 hours swimming since 5 January.

After departing from Ākitio, Ridler passed the milestone this afternoon, with more than 1,150 kilometres now behind him as he and the crew prepare for what is expected to be the toughest stretch of the journey.

Live Ocean co-founder Blair Tuke joined the mission this week, witnessing both the physical toll and the intent behind this final phase.

“As I sit here in Ākitio, it doesn’t seem like that long ago I was at Rarawa Beach up near North Cape before Jono started this mission,” said Tuke. “To think what he’s achieved over the last couple of months is huge.

“There’s only around 200 kilometres to go to Wellington. But that stretch ahead is going to be the hardest of the mission.”

Tuke said the coastline ahead is being approached with a mix of caution and belief.

“It’s a piece of coast the team has a lot of respect for. It’s going to challenge them like they haven’t been challenged yet,” he said. “But there’s also real energy that Jono’s going to get there, and that we’re going to deliver that message to end bottom trawling in Aotearoa.”

Having seen Ridler in tough conditions off Ākitio, Tuke said the scale of the effort is hard to fully grasp until you witness it up close.

“It really hammered home how hard this mission is,” he said. “He’s just there, stroke after stroke, minute after minute, hour after hour. It’s relentless.

“But there’s something pretty special about it too. The power of what he’s doing, and the message he’s carrying with him. When you see that in person, it’s pretty hard to put into words.”

Tuke said while the final destination is now within reach, the team remains grounded in the immediate challenge ahead.

“Jono’s the first person to say it’s one stroke at a time. He’s not there yet,” he said. “There’s still a lot of hard work between here and Wellington, but he’s already shown the grit and determination to get there.”

As the finish draws closer, the call to action is becoming more urgent. Public support for the mission continues to build, but Tuke says turning that support into a clear signal to decision makers is critical.

“Signing the petition is key – that’s what we’re delivering to Wellington. So if you’re following this, please do that. That’s how we get real change.”

This final push is about making it count – ensuring decision makers can’t ignore the message when he arrives.

New Zealanders can track Swim4TheOcean live and add their name to the call to end bottom trawling at swim4theocean.org