Rowing: Following in his father's wake

Shaun Quincey with Tasman Trespasser 2 yesterday, the vessel he hopes will take him 2200km across the Tasman. Photo / Sarah Ivey

More than 30 years after his father made the trip, Shaun Quincey is looking to follow, to become just the second man to row solo across the Tasman.

In 1977 Colin Quincey became the first to make the solo trip from New Zealand to Australia - a distance of over 2200km - on a journey he dubbed "The Tasman Trespasser Campaign".

He started from the Hokianga Harbour and ended his journey at Marcus Beach in Queensland.

After years of others trying to follow, Mr Quincey remains the only person to have completed the journey.

Now 32 years later, his son, 25-year-old Shaun Quincey, is hoping that some of his father's skills are pumping through his veins. At Auckland's Takapuna Beach yesterday, Mr Quincey unveiled the boat he would be rowing in - the Tasman Trespasser 2.

The journey is estimated to take 50 days to complete.