Rowers battle weather, infection

The crew of four, from left, Nigel Cherrie, Andrew McCowan, Martin Berka and James Blake. Photo / Christine Cornege

Bad weather and a foot infection are making an ambitious journey from Sydney to Auckland by sea even more challenging for four New Zealand rowers.

The expected 30-day trip may now take up to two months for Team Gallagher Tasman, who are in their 25th day on the Tasman Sea.

The Kiwis have spent the past two days retracing their path after being blown northwest.

They have spent about eight days anchored because of the weather and have been a man down since Friday.

Lincoln University economics professor Martin Berka, 37, has been battling an infection in his right foot which made it impossible for him to row. He has been injecting antibiotics and keeping a close watch to make sure the infection does not spread up his leg.

But the wound appears to be mending and yesterday Professor Berka - with team leader Nigel Cherrie from Auckland and teammates James Blake from Dunedin and Hamilton's Andrew McCowan - took hold of the oars again after being anchored for two days.

The four men left the Sydney Harbour Bridge on November 27 and are heading for the Auckland Harbour Bridge.

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.