We'll save you this time, but...

2003-11-19 11:22

Wellington - New Zealand warned on Wednesday it could use legal action to prevent a British rower making a third attempt to cross the fearsome Southern Ocean after he was plucked to safety from his crippled boat.

Jim Shekhdar, on a solo journey to South America via Cape Town, was picked up by New Zealand fisheries research ship Tangaroa late on Tuesday after his eight-metre vessel was battered by mountainous seas.

Shekhdar was about 740 miles (1 200km) off the southern New Zealand port of Bluff, which he left on November 5. An earlier attempt in his boat Hornette was abandoned in October just 80km into the journey.

The adventurer called for help after he was pummelled by a storm which destroyed much of the top of the boat, including the wind power system, solar panel and lights. He told reporters it was "like being inside a washing machine".

Shekhdar, who had been trying to row 9 000 miles to Cape Horn at the bottom of South America, said from aboard Tangaroa that he was comfortable and enjoying a warm cup of tea.

"I've got a sore neck, but I think it's lucky it's not broken. I've never been hit that hard before," he said. "I had a cut on the head, but it's stopped bleeding now. I think I had a bit of concussion, but it's okay now, too."

He did not say whether he planned a third attempt to make the crossing, but a Maritime Safety Authority (MSA) spokesperson said the body could use legal means to prevent Shekhdar having another go.

The MSA confirmed that Hornette was a foreign vessel crewed by a foreigner and therefore did not technically need permission to sail out of New Zealand.

But the MSA spokesperson said they could use a clause in the Maritime Safety Act which refers to vessels being fit and seaworthy.

"It's a wee bit questionable but we believe it's there," she said, adding that it would be used as a last resort.

"We would be strongly advising him against it (another attempt) ... we would rather he decided it was not worth the risk of his life and anybody else's life that might have to go and rescue him."

The Tangaroa is not expected back in New Zealand until December 10, and Shekhdar indicated he had a lot of thinking to do before deciding on what action he would take next.

"I had a lot of plans for when I finished, but I didn't have any plans for when I didn't finish. So I'm going to take a couple of days to sort things out," he said.

"It's a little bit depressing to think about it yet. I was less than 4 000 miles (6 400 kilometres) from Cape Horn, but that's a hell of a long way in a rowing boat, so I don't think it was that good of an effort."

The adventurer has already succeeded in rowing across the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

- AFP