An Italian seeking to row across the Pacific Ocean, from Peru to Australia, has sighted land after 236 days on the open sea.
Alex Bellini said on the website of the organization sponsoring his feat that he was ''moved'' to see land and had a great desire to walk after over 6,500km and eight months of rowing in his seven-meter craft.
The land Bellini spotted is Matthew Island located southeast of New Caledonia and about 2,500 from his final destination in Australia.
During his eight months at sea, Bellini said he had to fight against winds and opposing current which took him off course and at one point forced him to row for 38 hours straight, with only short breaks to eat.
Bellini rowed in a similar boat from Genoa to French Guiana in 2004.
