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Jim sets off to row the oceans blue
09:18 a.m. EST Nov 7, 2003
Jim Shekhdar reportedly departed for his double ocean row from Bluff, New Zealand on Wednesday morning, November 5th at 05:45 local time (16:45GMT November 4th). His solo journey will take him eastward from New Zealand to Cape Town, South Africa, around Cape Horn, to South America.
Though he hasn’t checked in with an updated dispatch, the latest position chart (updated November 6, 21:14 GMT) shows that Jim has made a good start - rowing 125 miles so far. He logged 85 miles the first day and 40 the next.
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.
Now he will try to row from New Zealand to South Africa around Cape Horn, South America - a total of 8087 miles. The row will 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.
Projected journey time: 158 days
Cape Horn: 22 Dec 2003
Arrival Cape Town: 9 March 2004
Average speed: 2.79 knots
Image of Jim Shekhdar courtesy of oc2003.com.
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