Bill Norrie established sail from Canada back in September on his private yacht Pixie as well as has actually spent nine months going across the globe – his only understanding of the Covid-19 pandemic flowing with to him using the occasional satellite e-mail from his other half.

The regional harbourmaster, Jim Dilley, said: “We do have such a good network and also a very excellent wellness system right here, so we can pay for that, in an individual case.

Viki Moore, a sailor from the area, said: “I obtained a few funny looks at the supermarket in fact, specifically when I went and got three packages of yeast at the same time.

Opening up about his knowledge of the virus, the 67-year-old told TVNZ: “My wife said, ‘The jargon is rounding of the curve, so now we’re six feet away [due to social distancing]’.

“So it’s a little strange to me. It hasn’t really hit me yet, because I haven’t really had much contact really.”

Despite not seeing a soul for months and demonstrating exemplary self-isolating skills in his little yacht in the middle of the ocean, Bill’s entry into New Zealand was initially questioned by officials, who queried whether he would have to spend 14 days self-isolating upon his arrival.

Bill said: “Initially they said, ‘You can’t come here,’ so I was like, ‘Where am I gonna go, right?’

“I was the most isolated person on the planet, they didn’t want to let me in. It was too funny!”

Eventually though, officials saw sense.

The regional harbourmaster, Jim Dilley, said: “We do have such a good network and a very good health system here, so we can afford that, in an individual case.

“He’s been at sea for three months, by himself, socially distancing, washing his hands, doing all the right things.”

But Bill ain’t planning on hanging around for long, and will be embarking on the final leg of his journey back to his wife Cathy in a few days.

In the meantime, locals have been helping him to stock up on food, which hasn’t been without hitches, what with stockpiling hardly in vogue at the moment.

Viki Moore, a sailor from the area, said: “I got a few funny looks at the supermarket actually, especially when I went and bought three packets of yeast at the same time. I thought I was gonna be lynched.”

If only we all head a sail boat each eh, we could be done with Covid-19 in a couple of weeks.