Rowing: Englishman plans voyage from NZ to South Africa

Englishman Jim Shekhdar plans to launch his bid to row solo to South Africa from Bluff, at the bottom of the South Island, in just over six months.

The 57-year-old hopes to be the first to complete the 21,000km journey crossing from New Zealand to Cape Town, via Cape Horn, expected to take up to a year.

He visited Southland last week to meet harbour officials, Sport Southland and potential backers.

The civil engineer is no stranger to long-distance rowing challenges.

He competed in the transatlantic rowing race in 1997 in which New Zealanders Rob Hamill and the late Phil Stubbs set a record for the crossing.

He has also completed a solo crossing of the Pacific from Peru to Australia.

"I've done the Atlantic and the Pacific and this is the ultimate one, after this I can retire," he said.

After two years of planning, the father of two plans to launch his vessel into Bluff Harbour on August 30. His project started with a budget of about $1.5 million, but has since been downscaled. However, he still needs financial backing.

Shekhdar's rowing boat, which he designed himself, has features to combat extreme weather.

- NZPA

oc2003