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Transtasman rowers (from left) skipper Nigel Cherrie, Andrew McCowan, James Blake and Martin Berka. Photo supplied. |
A blister-inducing effort to row across the Tasman Sea awaits
University of Otago student James Blake and a team of
endurance ocean-farers.
Mr Blake is part of the Team Gallagher bid to be the first
team of rowers to cross the Tasman from Sydney to Auckland,
rounding Cape Reinga along the way.
The team unveiled its boat at Lake Rotoroa in Hamilton
yesterday.
Mr Blake said recent preparations for the team included
testing and training on their new 10.5m boat, while refining
onboard systems in readiness for the 2500km voyage.
"We've still got a way to go and lots of things to sort out,"
he said of preparations for the starting day in October.
New Zealand marathon rower Rob Hamill is the land-based
director of a team, which includes Andrew McCowan, of
Hamilton, Martin Berka, of Wellington, and skipper Nigel
Cherrie, of Auckland.
Mr Blake's involvement in the team row follows in the wake of
efforts by his master-yachtsman father, Sir Peter, who used
his profile to raise awareness about the world's oceans.
Mr Blake, who is studying for a master's degree in science
communication, plans to use the team's transtasman exploits
to highlight his personal environmental concerns.
He is setting up a project to build the world's largest
artificial reef off the northern coast of Borneo and intends
to launch a reef-monitoring programme.
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