Hands that defied the wild ocean

Tara Remington and Iain Rudkin will row for 1000 hours. Picture / Brett Phibbs

The audience grimaces at the photos of the hands of past transatlantic rowers, as Rob Hamill displays what his latest crew can expect when they begin rowing 4500km across the ocean in November.

The picture shows dead skin falling from giant white and red blisters, which spread across the entire raw surface of the hands. "These are called pizza hands," Hamill happily tells the group of sponsors and media.

Yesterday the stalwart of New Zealand's past Atlantic-rowing teams introduced his latest crew, the mixed pairing of Tara Remington of Pukekohe and Iain Rudkin of Cambridge, at an official boat-launching ceremony at Auckland's Princes Wharf.

"I suggested to them that to be realistic, line honours would be an outside shot," Hamill told the Herald.

"From there the heckles were raised, which is a good attitude. The real focus is to be the first mixed crew across the line. I believe a top-five finish would be great. I'm sure they'd say they would want to win."

The boat is today being shipped to the Canary Islands so it is ready for the race start date of November 27.

Remington, 35, and Rudkin, 34, will row continuously for around 1000 hours until they reach Antigua in the Caribbean.

Remington says friends and family are "incredibly excited and incredibly frightened for us." The pair admit the most daunting prospect is a storm at sea and suffering equipment failure.

They met several years ago when they taught at the same school, and have developed a close friendship since. Hamill says it will be fascinating to see how the relationship develops at sea. Neither has any previous rowing experience. Remington has a background in multi-sport and Rudkin in mountaineering and sailing.

Hamill will not say how much the project is costing but admits to it being at least $200,000.