Team Gallagher will launch their boat Moana from Noakes boatyard at McMahons Point on November 27 to begin their bid to become the first team to row from Sydney to Auckland harbour bridges. The exact launch time will be confirmed on the Team Gallagher website (www.teamgallagher.co.nz) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/teamgallagher) on Saturday evening, but they will most likely be underway by 9am local time to make use of the high tide.

Nigel Cherrie (35) of Auckland, James Blake (24) of Dunedin, Wellingtonian Martin Berka (37), and Hamilton rower Andrew McCowan (28) will depart the dock on a 1,400 nautical mile (2,500km) adventure. Team Gallagher director and trans-Atlantic rower Rob Hamill says the journey is expected to take anywhere between "three weeks and three months."

The team have spent the past two weeks making final preparations for departure and conducting media interviews.

"The team are mentally ready to go now,” says Team Leader Cherrie, “the boat is in great shape and the weather forecast is good, we can’t wait to get going."

The crew will be available at McMahons Point (6 John Street) before the launch for photo and TV opportunities and interviews. All media are invited to attend the launch and should email media.teamgallagher@gmail.com before hand if they would like to speak to the team.