The trip has taken five years of "serious" planning.
"I'm ready to go now. I'm getting on a wee bit now, they tell me," he said.
"We've been preparing for this for 15 solid months now after having bought the boat.
"It's the last challenge. Then I retire gracefully from sailing after many, many happy voyages."
Waitaki District Mayor Alex Familton and Mayoress Heather Familton were among the 60-strong crowd to bid Mr Daw farewell.
Mr Familton said Mr Daw was very courageous to be attempting such a trip.
His 28-foot vessel has proved itself in the Pacific with a previous owner.
Built in Picton, it is fully stocked with enough provisions to last for nine months.
Mr Daw said he had no real concerns for the trip, having a lifetime of experience and knowledge of sailing behind him.
He has no computer on board, but will be writing a log and keeping family and friends updated when he reaches the Falkland Islands.
A satellite phone will enable him to talk from anywhere in the world.
Mr Daw said it was difficult to describe his feelings about the journey, but it would be a great way to wrap up an interesting life at sea.
On his return, a friend plans to pull all of Mr Daw's old sailing logs together and write a story for his family.
- Oamaru Mail
