UK adventurer costs NZ six-figure sum

By ALAN PERROTT

New Zealand taxpayers face a six-figure bill for two rescue missions to save British solo maritime adventurer Jim Shekhdar.

The 57-year-old was due to be picked up last night more than 1000km east of New Zealand by the research vessel Tangaroa after an Air Force Orion directed it to the scene.

It was Mr Shekhdar's second rescue in four weeks and will cost around $100,000.

On October 17, a tug was sent from Bluff to tow his 7.8m fibreglass boat back in after one of his three global positioning satellite instruments failed and his wind generator broke down 8km from Kaka Pt in South Otago.

National Rescue Co-ordination Centre spokesman Paul Harrison said the 10-hour Orion flight would cost about $100,000, which was not recoverable.

The cost would be met by the Air Force budget set aside for community support efforts such as rescues and disaster relief.

A spokesman for the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, which operates the Tangaroa, said it did not yet know the cost of diverting the ship, but estimated that the 350-nautical-mile journey would result in a three-day break from the vessel's fisheries research voyage.

Last night's mission followed a mayday call from Mr Shekhdar to the New Zealand coastguard about 1.30pm on Monday.

He said he was about 1200km east of Bluff and had suffered a head injury when rough seas rolled his boat several times, washing away much of his vessel's superstructure and breaking his oars.

The Orion arrived over Mr Shekhdar last evening and called in the Tangaroa.

Mr Shekhdar cannot be prevented from trying another voyage unless his boat and safety equipment are declared unseaworthy.

Mr Harrison did not expect Mr Shekhdar to be deterred by his failures and public ribbings.

"He wouldn't be an adventurer if he let that sort of thing worry him."

Mr Shekhdar has spent more than $500,000 on his attempt to row the 21,000km between New Zealand and South Africa, but hopes his costs will be covered by a book deal if he is successful.