Rower delays start

27 September 2003

Ocean rower Jim Shekhdar isn't rushing into the Southern Ocean – but he isn't rushing away either.

Everything had to be right, including his state of mind, before heading off on the solo voyage from Bluff to Cape Town.

After a chat with a forthright friend, Shekhdar decided to take the pressure off himself by not making concrete plans for a departure date.

"I would be a complete idiot to leave on this journey without being totally relaxed that everything worked and I was capable of handling whatever may come my way."

He could still head away early next week but there were more important details to be worked out than a departure date at the moment, he said.

The British rower has been on the end of a tidal wave of advice, warnings and well-wishers. Local yachties have inspected his boat and pointed out problem areas, while one Invercargill man had worked out a journey time model.

But the best advice came from an American friend, Shekhdar said.

"His advice was to get everything ready and then take two days to sit and ponder what I have left undone or forgotten."

And after all, what's the rush? The weather window for departure was about two months wide, he said.

Had he thought about giving up? "Other people have proposed it to me but it's never crossed my mind," he said.

"The first couple of days are going to be full of trepidation. After that I'll get the feel of the boat and I'll be ready for any kind of weather."