Solo yachtie takes on Japanese whalers 

A solo yachtie is joining the battle to save whales from potential slaughter.

David Taylor set off from Tauranga on Thursday in his homemade boat to take on the might of the Japanese fleet in the Southern Ocean.

Along with New Zealand's Greenpeace, Australia's federal government is also ramping up pressure against the so called scientific hunt.

Taylor's friends say he is committed, but that might be an understatement.

"I'm against whaling in total, but the humpback whales, they're just such a magnificent animal," says Taylor.

He is taking his self-built 10-metre labour of love to the high seas to let the Japanese know he thinks whaling is disgusting.

"I just feel it's something I have to do, I've got no option," he says.

Japan dispatched its whaling fleet last month for the largest ever hunt in the name of science.

They plan to kill more than 1,000 whales, including 50 humpbacks, making it the first major hunt of humpback whales since the 1960s.

It's not just Taylor getting all cut up over the cull, Greenpeace activists left New Zealand shores on Wednesday and Australia is taking its toughest stance yet, dispatching a Customs ship to shadow the fleet.

"The operation will be surveillance activity - it will not be enforcement or boarding," says Stephen Smith, Australian Foreign Minister.

The operation is aiming to gather evidence to mount a legal challenge against the Japanese if diplomacy fails.

"The activities that the Japanese research vessels are going to conduct are legal by all means," says Tomohiko Taniguchi of the Japanese Foreign Ministry.

But with activists vowing to do whatever it takes, Australia's Foreign Minister is calling on both sides to show restraint.

"Because the capacity for rescue is low and the danger of a fatality is high," says Smith.

The chance of a rescue is even smaller for Taylor.

Although the motivation for him to go is strong, the pull is even stronger for a safe return.

"The family, they're behind me, they're supportive, they'd naturally prefer me not to go, cause they realise the risk," says Taylor.

But he is determined to be home for his March wedding.