Rowers round cape

Press, 22 January 1982, Page 4

Rowers round cape

PA Auckland One month ago two brothers. Max Dedekind, of Christchurch, and Steve Harre. of Auckland, set out in “Kiwi One" their sevenmetre. 1.5-tonne boat to row the 4500 nautical miles around New Zealand. Mr Harre said by radio telephone last evening that they had passed Cape Reinga. although probably not for the last time. Mr Harre said they were about six miles north of Cape Reinga and had passed the cape.

"A westerly wind has just started blowing and that will probably push us back." He said that depending on the strength of the wind they might start down the west coast tonight. He confirmed that the weather, particularly the wind, was the main problem at present. "Our supplies are holding well. We expect another supply drop in the next 10 days." Mr Harre said that they were both fit and feeling “pretty good."

"We do not get burnt by the sun. Our skin has toughened up a lot. We sleep very well." said Mr Harre. A $20,000 fund-raising drive will be launched to . help finance the rowers' journey. Mr Max Tremain of the project's steering committee . said $17,000 was at present owing to suppliers and . another $3OOO in expenses was likely before the row . was finished. The final cost of the whole • •.attempt would be about $55,000.