Transtasman rower close to completing epic journey

A picture of Trans-Tasman rower Shaun Quincey during his epic voyage, posted on his Twitter site. Photo / Supplied

Transtasman rower Shaun Quincey is expected to complete his epic journey tomorrow, after fears that he might be swept past the top of the North Island abated overnight.

Quincey, who set off from New South Wales on January 20, was about 100km off the Northland coast at mid-morning today.

A member of his ground crew, Oliver Young, said Quincey sounded positive when he spoke to him.

"He rated himself mentally and physically nine out of 10," he said.

"Some of that might be excitement and adrenaline, because it's the last day. Whatever it is, he sounded much chirpier on the phone."

There had been concern yesterday that a strong current might push Quincey beyond the tip of the North Island.

However, the conditions had eased, although the sea remained active, with swells of two to three metres, Mr Young said.

"It's raining and cold, but I guess with his attitude and the realisation that it's his last day he's feeling good about it."

Mr Young said Quincey had reported no problems on board his 7.3m vessel, Tasman Trespasser, and had made about 90km over the previous 24 hours.

He had managed his water supply well enough to avoid needing a repeat of the aerial drop of fresh water that happened earlier in the journey.

The exact point where Quincey would make landfall was still not known.

It would be "somewhere in that haystack" of Ninety Mile Beach and would depend on the path he was able to take today.

Mr Young said the ideal spot would be at Shipwreck Bay, at the beach's southern end where there was more shelter.

"Failing that, if he is further north along Ninety Mile Beach, then we encounter a whole set of problems," he said.

"We have some surf lifesavers coming up with us and a few other people up there at the moment, plus a few planes, sussing it out and we'll have a plan in place."

Mr Young said he didn't expect to hear from Quincey again until tonight, barring an emergency.

The ground crew wanted to leave him to concentrate on the job at hand.

"The last part of the voyage, especially in the conditions, is probably one of the most dangerous, so he needs to knuckle down and get into it."

Quincey, 25, is following in the footsteps of his father, Colin, who rowed across the Tasman in 1977.

- NZPA