AN emergency rescue is under way east of New Zealand after a veteran
solo ocean rower struck extreme weather and called for help, rescue
officials said today.
British rower Jim Shekhdar, on a non-stop solo journey from the
southern port of Bluff to Cape Town in South Africa, reported his
vessel rolling several times in severe weather, which also broke his
oars and swept gear from the deck.
"He has suffered a minor head injury, and reported he was in distress
and in need of assistance," National Search and Rescue Co-ordination
Centre spokesman Paul Harrison said.
Shekhdar, 57, in contact with the centre by satellite phone, was "not
in need of immediate medical assistance", he said.
He had reported his position as about 1200km east of New Zealand in
the southern Pacific Ocean.
"Apart from feeling cold and wet, he's in a reasonably good state of
mind," Harrison said.
The New Zealand marine research ship Tangaroa diverted to assist
Shekhdar, would reach him about 8:00pm today (1800 AEST), he said.
Harrison said an air force P3 Orion surveillance airplane would
probably be sent to assist the Tangaroa to rendezvous with the 7.8m
rowboat Hornette in which Shekhdar was attempting the row.
It was not known whether the rowboat could be recovered by the
research ship.
It's the second time the solo adventurer has called for help since he
launched his bid last month to row the 14,400km from Bluff via
treacherous Cape Horn at the stormy tip of South America to Cape Town
in South Africa.
The Briton was towed back to New Zealand on October 17 after having
travelled just 80km, when his global positioning navigation system and
wind-powered generator failed.
Shekhdar, who expected his 2m-high rowboat journey to last seven to 12
months, said he would be traversing some of the world's roughest
waters in "probably the best-built cork in the world".
From Northwood near London, England, he has already rowed across the
Atlantic and completed a solo row of the Pacific from Peru to
Australia in early 2001.
The Associated Press
