Kiwi rowers halfway across Tasman

James Blake, Nigel Cherrie and the rest of Team Gallagher are now making strong progress after a rocky start to their 2500km voyage. Photo / Supplied

A team of Kiwi rowers has endured chronic blisters, a broken rudder and heavy seas to reach the halfway point on their trip across the Tasman Sea.

Inspired by ocean-rower Rob Hamill, the four members of Team Gallagher are rowing from harbour bridge to harbour bridge - from Sydney to Auckland.

Nigel Cherrie, Martin Berka, Andrew McCowan and James Blake - son of yachting legend Sir Peter Blake - set off in their boat Moana 20 days ago from the Sydney Harbour Bridge and nearly immediately struck storms and 40-knot winds.

They spent four days waiting out the rough weather, being bounced around their tiny cabin by five-metre swells.

Cherrie, the team's captain, wrote on the team blog: "The Moana is in the grip of the currents now with three- to four-metre waves crashing over the boat. We had a big southerly hit this morning at 4am. The wind is up to 40 knots and against the sea so a real battle. Just another day at the office!"

Another patch of awful conditions two weeks into the 2500km voyage broke part of the team's automatic steering mechanism.

But it has not been all toil for the rowers. They have had memorable encounters with dolphins and enjoyed a prime seat for Sunday's total eclipse of the moon.

The worst of the weather has passed and Cherrie has reported that the team is making strong progress, rowing an average of 111km a day.

To fuel the half-million oar-strokes across the Tasman, the rowers consume a fat-rich diet of 8000 to 10,000 calories a day.

Their voyage will finish at the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Ten days ago, the sailors donned red socks as a tribute to Sir Peter, who was killed by Brazilian pirates 10 years ago.

James Blake, 24, wrote on the team's blog: "I love the sea and I don't think I could be away from it. I think that came from growing up around my father. He had an enthusiasm for getting out there and trying things and putting yourself in situations you're not used to, and I think people can really learn from that."