It has been 11 weeks since we pulled the trigger, gave the green light and said that 2011 was going to be our year to complete the journey. Time has just flown by, and it's still shifting at a rate of knots.

Our focus now is to use every day and every dollar wisely. We have a long jobs list and sufficient but limited funds so we have to do our homework, prepare and research methodically, put plans in place and action them.

It's the same as any project:

- Conception and initiation - deciding that rowing an ocean is a good idea. Maybe we’ll come back to this point later.

- Definition and planning - this is the phase we're in right now. Make at least one step forward each and every day towards the goal.

- Execution - the exiting phase, launching the team officially and then putting the blades in the water and rowing out of Sydney harbour later this year.

- Performance and control - Day to day life on the boat. Controlling the controllable, rowing as hard as we can and seeing if we can establish a new record for the fastest row across the Tasman and setting a benchmark for the bridge to bridge course

- Closure - the thing that will motivate us all, the sight of the Auckland harbour bridge - our finish line and the place that marks a successful end to the campaign.

For me, the challenge is a fine balance between training, preparation, family and work. I sat down a week ago and looked at our holistic plan and said to myself that it’s going to be a massive challenge to ensure it’s all achieved, but then again, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

We are incredibly fortunate to have this opportunity and I would like to thank every single person that has helped us get this far. I can’t thank the team, their family, friends, our sponsors, supporters and everyone that has contributed or followed the team, enough.  This team will always be more than four blokes in a boat.

By Nigel Cherrie from the Trans-Tasman Rowing Team