FRIGHTENED - Atlantic Ocean - 19 December 2005 - rowers boat attacked

A pair of rowers from New Zealand taking part in the Atlantic Rowing Race were frightened by three-metre shark which attacked their rowing boat, bumping it and biting parts of it for more than 15 minutes.

The team’s shore manager released this report:

Monday, 19 December 2005

At sea. Atlantic Rowing Race: Shark Attack Team Sun Latte

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, bunting 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.”

Rob Hamill

Team Sunlatte is crewed by Tara Remington and Iain Rudkin from New Zealand
http://www.teamsunlatte.co.nz/
Event website http://www.atlanticrowingrace.co.uk

UPDATE - diver tells of attack in north Queensland Australia

In a later report the diver - Glen Simpson, 44, said he was spearfishing with his 15-year-old son Luke at a reef of Port Douglas when the attack happened.

Luke had just speared a trout when a few sharks appeared and a feeding frenzy began. One swam right up to Simpson’s face.

“I punched him with my left arm to get him out of my face,” Simpson told media.

"And as I did that I was thinking I got rid of him and another one came from behind and grabbed my right arm."

Simpson told his son to swim for the boat which was 60 metres away because he was bleeding a lot. But Luke refused and helped his father to the boat.

After Luke had speared the trout “they started harassing me and dad a bit," Luke said.

And then, "just out of nowhere, it was just like shark city," Simpson told media.

"It was like something out of a movie," he said.

"I consider myself very lucky, you know, especially with the mood the sharks were in."

Simpson required dozens of stitches to a badly gashed left arm.

They both said they would continue spearfishing, but be more cautious.

Sources:
The Sunday Mail

INJURED - Port Douglas, north Queensland, Australia - 11 December 2005 - diver attacked

A brief report on Australia’s ABC News online stated a 42-year-old man was bitten on the elbow by a shark while diving (presumably spearfishing) 20 nautical miles off Port Douglas in far north Queensland, Australia, on Sunday 11 December.

The report said he was in a satisfactory condition in Cairns Base Hospital.

No other information was available at the time of this web log.

Sources: ABC News online