AN action-packed film which tells the story of a Suffolk man's failed attempt to row solo around the world will have its premiere in London this month.

Annie Davidson

AN action-packed film which tells the story of a Suffolk man's failed attempt to row solo around the world will have its premiere in London this month.

Tenacity on the Tasman tells the story of Oliver Hick's adventurous bid to row alone through some of the most dangerous seas on the planet.

The Thorpeness man set off in his carbon fibre longboat the Flying Carrot in January this year to try and circumnavigate the globe.

Mr Hicks, 28, had already completed a four-month solo row from America to Britain in 2005 which made him the youngest person to row an ocean solo.

During the successful 2005 crossing he came up with the idea of his epic journey and eventually set out from Australia in January.

The Virgin-sponsored attempt aimed to raise awareness of climate change and global warming and Mr Hick's boat was fitted out with eight cameras to record the highlights of his voyage.

The 15,000-mile journey was expected to take him between 18 and 22 months to complete but went awry within 50 days of setting off, forcing him to divert towards New Zealand.

Mr Hicks was 1,000 miles from land but not wanting a rescue effort to be launched he tackled the trip himself unwittingly gaining the record of being the first person to row the Tasman Sea from Tasmania to New Zealand.

Now the end of the voyage has been made into a film by Mr Hicks and George Olver, a film-maker and one of the support crew for the record attempt.

It will have its first screening on November 19 at the Odeon in Leicester Square which will be followed by a question and answer session with the pair and a drinks reception.

Anyone wanting to buy tickets should go to the film's website at www.tenacityonthetasman.co.uk

annie.davidson@eadt.co.uk