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Jim Shekhdar, from Northwood, north west London, was plucked from stormy seas as he attempted to become the first person to row from New Zealand to South Africa in his 26ft boat Hornette. It was his second attempt and rescue.

Even if the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, which diverted one of its ships to rescue the rower, does give Shekhdar back his boat, maritime authorities have said they will likely ban him from launching a fresh attempt at the 9,000-mile voyage.

The agency wants to claim the boat as salvage and may use it to help cover part of the cost of rescuing Shekhdar.

The flight of the Orion spotter plane that guided the rescue ship to Shekhdar cost £40,000.

The veteran rower and his boat were plucked from the ocean 750 miles east of New Zealand after a storm left him bobbing helplessly in sub-Antarctic seas. He was less than 30 hours into the row, which was schedule to last between seven and 12 months.

Local media reported Shekhdar as saying he does not think the boat can be considered salvage as it was not abandoned and was still seaworthy. He was planning to have it shipped back to Britain.

“Obviously there’s a cost to do a rescue like this but you can’t squeeze blood out of a stone,” he said.

Shekhdar, 57, rowed the Atlantic with a partner in 1997. In 2000-2001, he made the first solo and unaided Pacific Ocean row from Peru to Australia, a trip that took 274 days.

New Zealand is responsible for search and rescue across a vast stretch of the South Pacific and sub-Antarctic waters.



Rower May Lose Boat to Fund Rescue Operation
12 December 2003
A solo British rower rescued from the South Pacific last month after a severe storm destroyed his oars may have to hand over his boat to help fund the rescue operation. Jim Shekhdar, from Northwood, north west London, was plucked from stormy seas as he attempted to become the first person to row from New Zealand to South Africa in his 26ft boat Hornette. It was his second attempt and rescue. Even if the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, which diverted one of its ships to rescue the rower, does give Shekhdar back his boat, maritime authorities have said they will likely ban him from launching a fresh attempt at the 9,000-mile voyage. The agency wants to claim the boat as salvage and may use it to help cover part of the cost of rescuing Shekhdar. The flight of the Orion spotter plane that guided the rescue ship to Shekhdar cost £40,000. The veteran rower and his boat were plucked from the ocean 750 miles east of New Zealand after a storm left him bobbing helplessly in sub-Antarctic seas. He was less than 30 hours into the row, which was schedule to last between seven and 12 months. Local media reported Shekhdar as saying he does not think the boat can be considered salvage as it was not abandoned and was still seaworthy. He was planning to have it shipped back to Britain. “Obviously there’s a cost to do a rescue like this but you can’t squeeze blood out of a stone,” he said. Shekhdar, 57, rowed the Atlantic with a partner in 1997. In 2000-2001, he made the first solo and unaided Pacific Ocean row from Peru to Australia, a trip that took 274 days. New Zealand is responsible for search and rescue across a vast stretch of the South Pacific and sub-Antarctic waters.