After what proved to be an extra couple of nerve-racking days at sea Dutchman Ralph Tuijn finally made it to the port of Rabaul on the island of New Britain (PNG). Tuijn, who aimed to row from Peru to Brisbane, Australia, was pushed north into the Solomon sea by ocean currents and prevailing winds. Navigating a 1200 lbs ocean rowing boat through the shallow coral reefs and numerous islands was asking for trouble and Tuijn decided a week ago that he would need a tow to a safe harbor. Fortunately Mr. Peter Sharp of the Rabaul Shipping Company was willing to send a boat out to tow Tuijn to the harbor of Rabaul.
 
The boat was however unable to rendezvous with Tuijn last Monday. Due to heavy thunderstorms and the closing in of darkness the attempt was aborted. Tuijn had no choice but to go back to the oars again. The second attempt on Wednesday proved to be successful. Tuijn was able to get on board and the Zeeman Challenger was towed to Rabaul where hundreds of people gave him a warm welcome.
 
This marks the end of the Zeeman Ocean Challenge. Tuijn has spend 369 night at sea in the last two years. In that time he has crossed both the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean in his rowing boat. He has covered a total distance of over 20.000 kilometers, more than half the globe.

Plans voor a follow-up are in the making, although it might take some years before he heads out to sea again. First his family will serve as anchor point for the time to come.

Tuijn will use the coming days to prepare his boat for transport back to The Netherlands. After a stop-over in Australia he will be reunited with his family in The Netherlands early August.
 
People can follow Tuijn’s endeavor on the expedition website: www.zeemanoceanchallenge.com. This website features regular updates in four languages.
With this project Tuijn is raising money for a children’s orphanage in India. People can support him in this via the website.