Quincey rowing in his father's footsteps – Australia to New Zealand Solo
Monday 7 December 2009, 6:01PM
By Tasmantrespasser.com
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Adventurer Shaun Quincey, 24, plans to row solo from Australia to New Zealand. If successful, Shaun will make the only solo crossing of the Tasman, other than his father, Colin Quincey, who made history in 1977 by completing the first ever and only since successful solo Tasman crossing from New Zealand to Australia.
On Tuesday, December 8th at 6pm on Takapuna Beach in Auckland, Shaun is officially launching the expedition and naming the boat that he will row across the 2200km gap. On Wednesday, December 9, the boat will be packed into a container to make her way across the Tasman to the starting line at Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia.
Tuesday evening’s celebrations are the culmination of almost 2 years planning, building, training and preparing for the journey only his father has survived in a rowing boat. Shaun has been documenting his preparation on his blog at the expedition website and twitter. Shaun has ensured that during the 70 day journey that he can continue to tweet the experience to the world.
http://twitter.com/Tasmanrower
Following in his father’s footsteps, Shaun will depart Australia in January 2010, rowing the treacherous Tasman Sea without any assistance. Shaun will battle a distance of over 2200km in 10-20 metre swells and one of the most hazardous seas in the world. Taking an estimated 50 to 70 days, his expedition, named Tasman Trespasser 2, will be an epic adventure. Shaun is raising funds and awareness for the New Zealand Surf Life Saving Association.
Shaun hopes that his expedition will be as successful as his father’s after a recent series of failed bids to make a solo crossing of the Tasman. Perhaps the most tragic occurred in February 20 07, when 39-year-old Australian Andrew McAuley died. His body was never found.
Colin’s boat was named Tasman Trespasser and Shaun thought it fitting to name his expedition “Tasman Trespasser II”.
Further Information and expedition updates available at: http://www.tasmantrespasser.com
About Shaun Quincey:
Born in an Army Jungle hospital in Singapore on the 27 of September 1984, Shaun moved to North Island of New Zealand to the Waiouru Army Camp at the age of 2 and lived there while his father was involved in a communications program.
At 4 years of age Shaun moved to Devonport, Auckland, which is home to the Royal New Zealand Navy where his father was based. Throughout his life, Shaun has always been involved with sport, playing soccer from the age of 5 until he was 7, when he started playing Rugby for North Shore Rugby Club. Rugby was to rule his life for 18 years, making the first XV at the age of 14 and playing in various age group teams while growing up.
Rowing entered Shaun’s life at the age of 14 years at Takapuna Grammar School, which provided the stepping stone to Surf Boat Rowing and eventually the Tasman Sea. As well as preparing for the Tasman crossing, Shaun is currently studying for his Masters in Business Administration after working in business development and advertising for the past 3 years.
About Colin Quincey:
Colin Quincey defines the old school adventurer. At age 17, Colin left his home town of Yorkshire, England to participate in the tall ships race around the world, serving on the George Voch, a German square rigger, eventually sailing into Hawaii, which was to be his home for some time as an apprentice to the sea.
After sailing the oceans of the world, New Zealand became his home and the desire for adventure began brewing. While Colin was working on the New Zealand spirit of adventure he was triggered by some of the young cadets lack of interest in trying new things and pushing their own limits.
The cotton wool wrapping up the young people of the world needed to be removed and Colin Quincey was going to be the one to show them how to do it! The Tasman Trespasser campaign was born and Colin was to row the Tasman 6 months later, making history and putting New Zealand on the map of adventure again.
Colin’s life between then and now hasn’t slowed one bit. After serving 25 years with the Royal New Zealand Navy, Colin has worked with disadvantaged children in Tonga, Thailand and Cambodia and now resides in Darwin Australia. He has had many more planned adventures on the way.