Transtasman rower to carry on

Trans-Tasman Kiwi rower Shaun Quincey says he will will carry on with his attempt to row from Australia to New Zealand after a night of drama which saw him turn turtle twice in heavy seas.

Quincey, 25, thought he had lost too much gear in the capsize to carry on and may need rescuing.

However, after checking his boat at first light today, he found he had lost less gear than he had thought, and he would carry on rowing to New Zealand.

"I am okay and just got a big fright I think last night and have to move forward from there and be positive about finishing this journey," he said today in a podcast on his website, tasmantrespasser.co.

Quincey sent out a distress signal last night when his boat, Tasman Trespasser II ,capsized twice about 680km west of New Zealand.

The signal put rescue authorities on alert and the national Rescue Coordination Centre in Wellington began looking at rescue options for the solo rower.

He was just inside New Zealand search and rescue waters, after rowing about 1451km since leaving Australia on January 20.

The rescue centre said he had rested and waited out the night while the rescue centre remained on standby to launch a rescue if required.

Mission coordinator Geoff Lunt said he spoke to Quincey again this morning and the rower advised he intended to continue with his journey.

"He has checked over the vessel this morning in daylight, and he lost less equipment than he first thought," Mr Lunt said.

"All his emergency equipment is in good working order, he has excellent communications and he's comfortable about continuing on his way."

In his podcast message Quincey said the night had been horrific.

He said on one of the capsizes a lot of water had got into the cabin which he described as "pretty scary".

"I don't really know how to describe it. Last night was probably my most horrific night on the Tasman. "We were stuck upside down for at least 20 minutes.

"It was an absolutely horrific experience and it really made me think about it - to continue the trip or not."

Quincey is 680km west of New Zealand's west coast and rowing in 30 knot winds in swells up to five metres.

He was never in danger of becoming separated from his boat because of his harness.

He planned to land on the Taranaki coast after a 2450km journey.

NZPA