KEY POINTS:
A man who set off on a 160km charity rowing trip had to be rescued by one of the organisations for which he was raising money when his voyage hit the rocks after one day.
A support boat had to be towed to safety by the Coastguard after Roger Reardon's single-handed rowing journey from Waiheke to Mayor Island, near Tauranga, ran into trouble this week in a storm at Port Jackson on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Another support vessel, the Star Moana, was wrecked after dragging its anchor, and Reardon's dinghy Smelly Nelly was "ripped to pieces" on the shore in heavy seas.
Reardon said three people were on board the Star Moana when it ran aground and, despite events being "a bit dramatic", everyone was taken off safely.
It was a disastrous end to a planned four- to five-day journey to raise money for the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust, the Coastguard and the Greenlane Hospital burns unit.
"It was a bit embarrassing," said Reardon, after his second support vessel had to be towed back through heavy seas by the Coastguard.
"But it's part of the battle."
It was worse for his mate Dave Whiting, whose lovingly restored launch Star Moana was smashed after running aground and had to be burned on the beach.
Reardon said they were facing another fundraising challenge - helping Whiting get a new boat.
Reardon refused to be despondent though.
"I am more determined now than ever to complete the mission, hopefully within the next 10 days. I'm rebuilding my boat now."
He said some people had suggested he resume his journey at Port Jackson, because he already had 43km under his belt.
"But that would be cheating," he said.
The false start is water under the bridge to Reardon. "It's all done now, it's history. Nobody is to blame. We're all still good friends."
Whiting could not be reached for comment.
A Coastguard spokesman said there didn't seem to be anything "untowards" about the expedition, particularly as there were two support vessels.
However, he said there was a wind warning last Tuesday, the day the accident happened.
"Maybe more caution could have been shown for the weather conditions."
