In 1977 a man called Colin Quincy became the first person in the world to row the Tasman solo. He set off in the far north with a boat, some food and water, and arrived in Australia a couple of months later.
To this day no one has completed the journey the other way, but one man is about to try, and it is Colin’s son, Shaun.
In 12 hours he will begin the first of five 17-hour shifts on a rowing machine, as he attempts to break the world record for rowing one million metres.
“This is the first biggest test before I row the Tasman at the end of November,” he says.
A million metres is 1000 kilometres, or close to half the distance Shaun will have to row to get from Australia to New Zealand when he sets off in November.
But before he can row, Shaun must first build the boat that is going to carry his Tasman dream.
The prefabricated design arrived from the UK two months ago. It will be about 400 kilograms lighter than the one his dad rowed.
But the Tasman is one of the most treacherous and unpredictable seas in the world.
Aussie Kayaker Andrew McAuley lost his life during his solo attempt to New Zealand back in February 2007.
Quincey is the first person to attempt a solo crossing since, and he will be alone for up to 80 days.
But first there is the million metres to row, and while he may not move an inch, each stroke will take him closer to the ocean and the journey of his life.