Shekhdar Update–Bon Voyage…Finally! Marathon rower Jim Shekhdar, 56, is finally ready to tackle the Southern Ocean, after a long delay for repairs to his custom-made cockleshell, followed by a long wait for favorable weather to kick in. With the weather looking good, Jim is preparing to depart Bluff, New Zealand Friday early: “No more excuses – the weather looks right and the boat is ready so I guess I’m going tomorrow morning.” Ummm, how about a little enthusiasm, Jim? Though maybe it is hard to get too excited about an open-ocean row of many thousands of miles through frigid, forbidding waters. Jim hopes to eventually turn up in Cape Town, South Africa. His expected arrival date….May 6, 2004. You can track Jim’s progress here, or read about it in the Wetass Chronicles. See ya, Jim……



Detailed Schematic of Jim’s Vessel: It seems to float…but has been commandeered by an alien

(Image courtesy of Louisa McCulloch, 6)