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Team Gallagher arrive in Auckland - Source: ONE News -
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The intrepid trans-Tasman rowers have arrived in Auckland to a great welcome on the water.
The quartet of Nigel Cherrie (35), Martin Berka (37), Andrew McCowan (28) James Blake (24), , have been battling extreme weather in the Tasman since leaving Sydney on November 27.
Their voyage was expected to take 30 days but became a gruelling marathon marked by breakages and appalling weather.
The four-man crew covered 2500 kilometres during which they broke the rudder, self-steering gear and their sliding seats.
The team's campaign director and a former transatlantic rower Rob Hamill was left speechless by their battle across the seas.
"Journey completed. Journey's not a word. It's an epic," he told ONE News.
The team reached the Bay of Islands on Monday after 51 days on the water. They picked up some supplies and dropped off team mate Martin Berka before heading back out to sea to finish their journey in Auckland.
Today Team Gallagher finally arrived after plugging into a headwind and battling waves for 55 days at sea. Their progress up the harbour was well supported with a fly-past as they approached the fishing line under the Harbour Bridge.
"It's been the toughest thing I have ever done in my life. Physically it's been really, really hard but mentally that's where it's been the hardest. Being stuck inside here for nine days or so really really challenges you - so it's awesome to be here," James Blake said.
James is the son of the late yachting legend Sir Peter Blake and mum, Pippa, Lady Blake, was proud to witness his achievement.
"I think he (James) looks pretty fit to me actually. He's definitely lost some weight but he looks good. He's got good biceps," she said.
She told ONE News that James' father would have probably thought his son a "nut case because he would never have done it, I know."
"He (Peter) would have been deeply proud and I think deep down inside James knows that."
Family emotions were also running high for skipper Nigel Cherrie as he reunited with five-year-old son Thomas.
Funds raised by the rowing journey will go towards building the world's largest man-made reef off Indonesia.
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