INTO THE WILD / GIANT SHARK WATCH: All Pissed Off and Nowhere to Go

[OK... not so giant but pissed off nonetheless... and the boat is no crusie ship}

STUFF - STORY - HOME : New Zealand's leading news and information website:
NZ boat suffers shark attack
20 December 2005

New Zealand trans-Atlantic rowers Tara Remington and Iain Rudkin faced their own scene from Jaws when a shark attacked their boat today.

The pair, currently competing in the fourth Atlantic Rowing race, were attacked by a shark estimated to be at least 3m long .

The shark circled the boat before bunting into it during a 15 minute attack while it also tried to bite the rudder, anchor and hull Remington told the pair's shore manager in Hamilton Rob Hamill.

'It was so aggressive and persistent, for a while we wondered if it would ever stop, it just kept hitting the boat,' Remington said.

'We weren't sure it was not biting holes in the underside so we rang the support ship Aurora for advice and possible assistance.'

The support ship arrived about six hours after the attack, but was waiting until the morning to assess if the boat suffered any damage.


atlantic rowing race: " When the first ever Atlantic Rowing Race was launched in 1995, there was disbelief. However, three successful races later, no less than 141 courageous individuals have achieved the extraordinary, by successfully rowing across the Atlantic Ocean as part of this unique event."


Sun Latte Atlantic Rowing: The Log: Dec 20:
Shark Attack
In the early hours of the morning New Zealand time Team Sun Latte was attacked by a shark. Tara said on the Tech Rentals phone this morning that it circled the boat for a short time before making its attack, butting into the boat sending it rocking. Iain and Tara didn’t muck around and got into the well of the boat and tried to not move or make a sound. The unprecedented attack continued unabated over the next 15 minutes leaving the rowers shell shocked.

“We were really scared,” said Tara, “It was so aggressive and persistent, for a while we wondered if it would ever stop, it just kept hitting the boat, having a go at the rudder, the sea anchor and hull. We weren’t sure it wasn’t biting holes in the underside so we rang the support ship Aurora for advice and possible assistance.”

The ship made its way to the crew taking about six hours to get to them. Unfortunately, it was dark by the time it arrived so was unable to assess any possible damage. The support boat is currently staying close until dawn at which point a check will be done.

Tara estimated the beast to be 12 feet long, “because when it went under the boat which is 6 feet wide we could see both ends of it sticking out either side,” but she was not sure what type it was, they didn’t hang around long on deck to find out! “

The scary thing is I was in the water cleaning the hull for barnacles at exactly the same time yesterday and Iain did likewise the day before,” said Tara. “I haven’t bitten my nails for over a year now but in that time I chewed two nails right off.” Iain said he considered taping a gas cooking canister to a flare and trying to shoot it ‘Jaws’ style but thought the better of it. He passed comment to Tara that, “In 20 years time you may not remember what happened yesterday but you sure as hell won’t forget today.”