ITN

March 30,2001

Briton sets Pacific rowing record

A British adventurer has become the first man to single-handedly row across the Pacific [unassisted].
54-year-old Jim Shekhdar set off from Peru on June 29 and rowed 9,000 miles through treacherous conditions before reaching Brisbane, Australia, on Friday.
Mr Shekhdar had to swim the last 200 metres of his journey after his boat,
Le Shark, was hit by a two-metre wave and he was thrown overboard.

After receiving a hero's welcome at the beach at North Stradbroke Island, Mr Shekhdar said: "When I said it was what I was going to do nobody believed me so I thought I'd better do it.
"There's a lot more attention at the end than there was at the beginning.
"I've had my beer, I've had my ice-cream, I've kissed the wife, I've seen my daughters. Now I'm going to go back to my hotel.
"The first couple of months at sea were really good as it was nice to have some solitude.
"But eventually it gets a bit lonely out there."
The former England international water polo player also received a message of congratulations from Tony Blair.

Mr Shekhdar, from Northwood in west London, battled cyclones, shark attacks and dwindling food supplies on his voyage, rowing around 10 miles a day for nine months.
The father-of-two kept in contact with his family and friends and the Ocean Rowing Society with phones, faxes and a computer, and he was continually monitored using a tracking beacon.

Mr Shekhdar, a former civil engineer and management consultant, said he took up the challenge because the corporate lifestyle did not suit him and he wanted a new focus.
Prior to his departure, Mr Shekhdar said: "As far as I was concerned, the Pacific had never been rowed solo continent to continent and I wanted to be the first to do that."