- Jim Shekhdar
and was the first person to complete a solo unassisted non-stop crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
Shekhdar was born in
Leamington Spa in 1946 and lived inIndia from the age of seven to twelve where he learnedHindi . Back in England he went to University where he studiedcivil engineering . This in turn allowed him to travel the world which he did for fifteen years. Shekhdar was a keenwater polo player but stopped playing after a falling out with the British Water Polo Administration for claiming airfare to an International match.He stayed in
Australia for a year and a half playing Rugby and working as an engineer then moved on toPapua New Guinea ,Africa , theMiddle East ,New Zealand and Las Vegas. He finally returned to England where he was permitted to play water polo again only to find himself banned for life one more time after throwing a referee into the water.cite web
url=http://www.oceanrowing.com/Jim_Shekhdar/interview_with_Jim_Shekhdar.htm
publisher=Ocean Rowing Society
title=Interview with Jim Shekhdar
date=June, 2000]
Shekhdar became interested in
ocean rowing after reading John Ridgway’s book about his transatlantic row withChay Blyth . He initially wanted to start a corporate team building style venture with either Ridgway or Blyth but neither were interested.
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