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Jim phones in as he awaits pick up
10:29 a.m. EST Nov 20, 2003
Here's the latest call from Jim Shekhdar as he awaits pick up from the New Zealand survey vessel, Tangarua:
 Audio - Jim calling in
"Hi this is Jim Shekhdar. OC2003. It’s 0436 GMT on the 18th of November (My mom’s birthday.) I’m at 49º 19S and 175º 27W. As some already know, approx 24 or 32 hours ago, I requested assistance from New Zealand authorities. I was involved in an enormously violent pitchpole which damaged my head, neck and most importantly, the front hatch. Apart from that, everything was wiped off the top of the boat apart from the anemometer and the iridium aerial, so to have gone on would have been a little bit foolish, I think. It was a long 4 hours. I took 2 of them in the proverbial washing machine position with four-point harness and a helmet and trying to stop the blood flow from my head. Basically just going around in circles, it was quite surreal, really. I was sitting upright, the world was going around me as the boat in and rolled over.
Anyway, I’m expecting to rendezvous with the NZ survey vessel Tangarua in about 4 hours expecting a plane overhead with TV in about 3 hours time, which is going to be a bit of a pain.
Hopefully, we’ll save the boat as well as myself and as they say, fight to live another day. I’d just like to say how sorry I am to any of the people who bought into this dream of mine for not fulfilling it for myself and for them. Obviously, if anybody… (audio cuts out)… let me know. I’m going to have to get a proper job otherwise when I get back."
Jim also just updated his site with the following:
"I am expecting an Orion aircraft, with TV1 and TV3 crews on board, overhead in 3.5 hrs and to rendezvous with the Tongarua approx 1 hr later - just after dark but hoping to get the boat lifted on board
I have just recorded a message on Explorersweb.com with more or less what I said yesterday! Time is going slowly and so am I - however, I am hopeful that the boat will be rescued with me - looks like we may be at sea for another week though - that will be very frustrating even though I don't know what I am going to do once back on land!
I had a lot of plans for after I made it but none for when I didn't!
In case anyone knows people needing Inspirational, motivational or after dinner speakers - get in touch - I may even have to get a 'proper' job!!
A nice quote from Tina at Explorersweb.com:
Progress is to fail at increasingly greater things (Edison)
Thanks Tina - nice quote!!"
Jim Shekhdar rowed across the Pacific Ocean, solo and unassisted from East to West in 2001 (Peru-Australia 2000/2001). The journey lasted for 273 days and during that time he covered more than 10,500 miles.
This expedition was to take him from New Zealand to South Africa around Cape Horn, South America - a total of 8087 miles. The row would last about six months and span over two different oceans.
This route has never been rowed before and the waters around Cape Horn are notoriously dangerous. -"The real challenge is to get around the Horn, the double/triple ocean crossing or all the way around is a matter of sitting out there cold and wet and rowing for a few extra months.", Jim says. Another rower - Jo Le Guen - made an attempt to cross the Pacific going west to east in a similar expedition. He was forced to abort two thirds into the journey as his foot became gangrenous.
Image of Jim Shekhdar courtesy of oc2003.com.
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