A LYSTERFIELD man whose boat capsized in Bass Strait said the incident had attracted "bittersweet" attention.

Ben Turner and crew members Margaret Bowling and Clark Carter were on an expedition to Tasmania when their seven-metre boat overturned early on January 31, about 30 nautical miles off Wilsons Promontory.

The boat immediately flipped itself upright but Mr Turner injured his elbow in the drama.

"It's a bit worse than a break, which is what we first thought it was. It's nerve damage and my hand is playing up a bit, too," he told the Weekly.

The crew rowed towards Flinders Island to call for help, and water police rescued the trio late on the Tuesday night.

The trip was to be a training run for Mr Turner's world record attempt - to be the first Australian, and youngest person, to row solo across the Pacific Ocean from Peru to Sydney.

He wants to use the 13,000 kilometre row to raise money and awareness for cystic fibrosis research however, the injury may delay the 27-year-old's planned departure in April.

"Because the injury is more serious there will be more recovery time. I'm going to push really hard to be ready by April, but it may have to be pushed back a year."

The crew received nationwide attention over the incident which Mr Turner said resulted in more donations. "It's a bittersweet turnout, because of course we'd like to be turning up in Hobart, in the boat, to promote the cause."

The incident also attracted critics who labelled the water police rescue a waste of money as the crew had put themselves in danger.

Mr Turner said he was happy to talk with critics and explain his passion for the ocean row and for cystic fibrosis, a disease that affects a close family friend.

He said a donation would be made to the Australian Volunteer Coast Guard .

Details and donations: benturner.com.au