George Park, an enthusiastic member of the Hokitika Club, who built up paddling experience on the West Coast between Okarito and Greymouth, built two Rob Roy style canoes, Mermaid and Sunbeam. He and his brother, Will, used these canoes to cross Cook Strait on 23 February 1890 in 30.5 hours, a feat which was emulated in 1895 by W. and G. Fitzgerald in a double kayak.