Solo rower not swayed by advice against further bid

British adventurer Jim Shekhdar says he is not impressed with a Maritime Safety Authority plea for him to abandon plans to attempt another solo row across the southern ocean.

Shekhdar, 57, was forced to abandon his attempt to row from Bluff to Cape Town, via Cape Horn, on November 18 after running into difficulties about 1230km from Bluff.

The Government research trawler Tangaroa, which was in the sub-antarctic area, diverted from its route to pick up Shekhdar and his boat, Hornette, before continuing with a fisheries survey.

It was Shekhdar's second attempt at the 21,000km trip. The first was abandoned on October 17, one day after setting out, because of gear failure.

After the second attempt failed, an authority spokeswoman said the solo rower should not try a third time. If he ignored advice the authority could try to stop him by invoking provisions of the Maritime Safety Act.

Shekhdar, who is still on the Tangaroa, said he had not made up his mind whether to try again, but he would not place much weight on the authority's advice.

Meanwhile, he still hoped to get a ride on a passing ship heading for Bluff.

Shekhdar said he had yet to decide whether to leave Hornette in New Zealand for repairs, or take it back to Britain.

- NZPA


Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine