Stein Hoff, 57, set out from Lisbon, Portugal, on the 3,700-nautical mile journey Aug. 10 in a 23-foot boat, Star Atlantic II.

Hoff, of Oslo, Norway, arrived to this north-coast South American country a few days earlier than planned at Parika, 22 miles west of the capital, Georgetown. Exhausted but in good health, Hoff said he was proud of his achievement.

``It was pretty scary out there,'' he said. ``I am glad I made it, but I had some pretty scary moments.''

Strong currents forced him to anchor at Parika. He was hoping to arrive at the mouth of the Demerara River near Port Georgetown on Friday, but the currents pushed him west.

``I'm a little shaky being on land,'' Hoff said. ``The last two night were the most treacherous...I was drifting all over the place.

``The currents were pushing me sideways away from Georgetown and I didn't know where I was going.''

Hoff said he never ran out of supplies, including home-cooked meals made by his wife, but his laptop and radio were lost to water damage.

``I actually gained a little weight from eating so much,'' he said.

Hoff, a doctor with three children, made the journey without any support vessels accompanying him. He planned to remain on the Star Atlantic II until Friday, when his wife, mother and government officials welcome him in Port Georgetown.

``I think I am going to be all right. I am just going to soak up the local (culture) until tomorrow,'' he said.

Hoff said he will travel by car to the capital.