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Dr Tom Mulholland had to do some healthy thinking of his own as he stood knee deep in sewerage after the plumbing failed on his 12.5m launch.
Add in failed fuel pumps and some "gnarly" sea conditions that put him on the edge of his comfort zone and it's been an eventful circumnavigation of New Zealand. But the adverse events have been far outweighed by the affirmative during his Healthy Oceans, People and Ports (HOPP) tour of New Zealand.
Dr Tom has been hopping from one port to the next around New Zealand since leaving Auckland on October 1 to talk to people involved in the sailing and boating communities about their physical and mental health. He's also done some testing to measure their wellbeing and has two more legs, from Taranaki to Whangarei and then Auckland, before his journey comes to and end on March 31.
He's feeling deflated about the fact the tour is almost over but already has plans to walk and raft the length of New Zealand for his next mission and then sail around the Pacific to spread his wellbeing messages in the Islands.
Dr Tom is a character, and has plenty of stories to tell about his adventures around the world, but has been overwhelmed by the people he's met along the way.
"As much as the scenery has been spectacular, it’s the people we have met that has really made the difference," he said. "We have met some real characters along the way and people have gone out of their way to help us when we've had a few issues.
"One of the highlights for me was being introduced at the Bluff Yacht Club. 'We don’t get many speakers at the Bluff Yacht Club,' the guy introducing me said. 'In fact, you’re the second ever. The first was Grant Dalton when he came around the world on Ceramco and he came back with the America’s Cup. Technically we’ve had two speakers but yours is the third presentation."
Dr Tom has also received plenty of sideways glances because of his 12m launch.
"In Bluff we were getting a few looks because there are not many catamarans from Westhaven that make it to Bluff. One of the classic comments we got coming up the Otago Harbour from the coastguard was, 'you look like one of those Sydney ferries, mate, do you really think you should be down here?' A couple of times I have wondered."
See here for more on Dr Tom and here for more information about his Kynd Wellness app.
