Nov 19, 2003 - The British adventurer Jim Shekhdar says he may give up
his bid to row from Bluff to South Africa after his second attempt
failed.
Shekhdar left Bluff on November 5 hoping to be the first man to row
solo to South Africa. But on Monday he hit bad weather which flipped
his lightweight boat tipping his oars and equipment overboard.
The 57-year-old was rescued Tuesday night after an Airforce Orion flew
from Whenuapai in Auckland, to help guide the research ship Tangaroa
alongside Shekhdar's boat.
Shekhdar says he was lucky he did not break his neck after he was
hurled into the front hatch head first.
He says the experience has made him reconsider his ocean-going future.
"I used to say that being frightened of the sea kept me safe, now I
think now being terrified of the sea might keep me off."
Shekhdar's rescue bill may more more than $100,000 - another reason
Shekhdar says, he may not put to sea again.
"I've always said that if I have to ask for help I would reconsider
ever going out again. I don't think it's right to ask people to go and
rescue you if you put yourself in danger and put them in danger."
It will be another two weeks before the Tangaroa and Shekhdar are back
in New Zealand.
