England to New Zealand - by jetski

Kiwi is attempting incredible 32,000km journey from London to Wellington on personal watercraft

A New Zealander is attempting to make the 32,000km journey from London to New zealand - by jetski.

Jeremy Burfoot, a 51-year-old airline pilot, left London at the weekend and plans to spend the next four months on his jetski.

It's not the first time Burfoot has attempted such an incredible feat by jetski. Five years ago he circumnavigated New Zealand, setting a world record in the process.

Hi first officer came up with the latest idea as something that would top his previous feat. Burfoot's first reaction? "You're an idiot."

But he came round to the idea and now, according to an interview with TVNZ, he faces possible encounters with sharks, bad weather and pirates along the way.

If he succeeds, Burfoot will smash the record for the longest journey by personal watercraft. And in the process he aims to rase awareness of the dangers of skin cancer - something he has battled in the past.

Burfoot is teaming up with Irishman Adrian Erangey, Kiwis Travis Donoghue and Garry Learmonth and Ivan Otulic from Croatia. The team plans to cross the English Channel to Rotterdam, on to the Black Sea via the Rhine and Danube rivers. They will then motor on to Turkey, Egypt, Yemen, Oman, Pakistan, India and down to Singapore before island-hopping around Indonesia and down the east coast of Australia to Melbourne. Finally, they will cross the Tasman sea to Wellington and on to Auckland and the finish line.

One of the challenges will be to refuel at countries along the way. Burfoot hopes to finish his journey in November.

To follow their journey, visit: http://london-sydney.com/