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Jim's ocean row over
08:21 a.m. EST Nov 18, 2003
Jim has made the difficult decision to abort his expedition. Here are his own words (early morning Nov 17 EST):
"As you are probably aware by now I called NZ and asked for assistance at 2350Z 16/11. I am expecting to rendezvous with the NZ Tangarua, a research ship that has been sent to get me at approx 0400Z 18/11.
Briefly, I was warned by telephone from a fishing boat 400 miles west of me (skippered by John 'Hook' Whitmore), via Pat (Marimsys), in Chile that they were experiencing 80kt gusting 95kt and it was heading my way! By the time it got to me it wasn't quite that bad but at about 0800 this morning (1900Z), from absolutely nowhere I was pitchpoled with horrendous force, my head tried to get out of the closed hatch, breaking off one of the two catches and I bounced back into the cabin surrounded by everything from both cabins.
After stopping the blood from the head wound, several hours in the washing machine now in my 4 point harness with helmet, it was quite surreal watching the ocean go upside down outside my door! By 2350 I had taken the decision to try to get out - fortunately the kiwi MSA and rescue services are particularly efficient and they will probably get to me tomorrow afternoon and hopefully bring the boat back with me."
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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