By Alison Horwood
WELLINGTON - French marathon rower Jo Le Guen spent two years preparing for a world-first 8000km solo crossing from New Zealand to Cape Horn - but the one thing he could not control was Wellington's weather.
After a two-week delay in leaving the capital because of its trademark winds, the 52-year-old plans to head off from Freyberg Beach tomorrow on the epic journey across some of the South Pacific's most desolate seas.
For the next 100 or so days he will row his self-funded and purpose-built 9m vessel for up to eight hours a day.
It is an undertaking that most would call crazy - but there is a serious side to the venture for the father of five from Breton.
He wants to raise awareness of pollution in the world's oceans with a "Keep it Blue" project.
Backed by a Le Havre University team, he will take photos and log his journey to prove how much damage has been done.
"I love the sea and I want to try to make people aware of the problems facing the oceans and the planet itself. If it dies, we die with it," says Le Guen, a deep-sea fisherman who has twice rowed solo across the Atlantic.
He has also crossed the Atlantic 12 times by sail but prefers to put his arm power to the test with oars.
"Using oars is fantastic. You cross the ocean as though you are stepping out for a walk. And when you sleep, the vessel is like a piece of flotsam going wherever the wind takes it."
His only contact with the outside world - including with his newborn, Tangi - will be via satellite phone and e-mail. His meals will comprise dry energy foods and desalinated sea water.
His daily progress can be checked on www.keepitblue.net.
Solo ocean rower to 'keep it blue'
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