Cargo ship rescues naked rower

Keith Whelan in a photo from his web site. Photo / Supplied

A self-described naked adventurer rowing solo across the Indian Ocean has had to be rescued by a cargo ship off the West Australian coast after he was hit by a large wave.

Keith Whelan, 29, was trying to become the youngest man and first Irishman to row solo across the Indian Ocean when he was caught in rough seas on Monday.

Police said Mr Whelan had set off from the Abrolhos Islands, about 60km west of Geraldton, when he was hit by a large wave, causing him to strike his head on a bolt protruding from inside his sleeping compartment.

He suffered a gash to his head and although he was not concussed police said he was concerned about infection.

An Australian Maritime Safety Authority spokeswoman said Mr Whelan made a satellite phone call to an associate in the UK who then contacted Australian authorities.

A cargo ship heading for Bunbury was diverted to rescue Mr Whelan, who was eventually picked up 218km off the Geraldton coast on Tuesday.

Police said he would remain on board the ship until it arrived at Bunbury.

According to the Irishman's website, the Naked Adventurer, he was attempting to row 6000km unassisted from WA to Mauritius.

"Having gotten into a rowing boat for the first time only a year or so beforehand, he will spend 110 days alone at sea, facing 50-foot swells, hurricane force winds and unrelenting sunshine and he'll be naked," the website said.

Mr Whelan started the journey on May 7.

Geraldton Volunteer Marine Rescue Group commodore Brian McClymans said it didn't begin well.

"We heard he was having difficulty out through the breakers and sent one of our vessels to monitor his movement and see that he actually was able to get through successfully," Mr McClymans told Fairfax Radio.

"He apparently left and went the wrong way for a short period. I questioned in my own mind whether or not he had the ability to continue on."

Mr McClymans said embarking on that journey at this time of year without support, let alone doing it naked, was a "rather foolhardy thing to do".

The Irishman undertook the voyage to raise money for the charity Keep a Child Alive, which aims to help children and families affected by HIV/Aids.

"At first I thought this was complete madness but at the same time it appealed to me. I am a risk taker and risking your life to achieve a dream is the biggest risk you can take," Mr Whelan wrote on the website.

"Some might say it's foolish but to my mind it is only foolish if you don't know the risks and you don't prepare for them and train for every possible scenario."

- AAP