An American oarsman aiming to row across the Atlantic to raise awareness for HIV/AIDs is preparing for the final leg of his odyssey after being attacked by pirates off the Haitian coast.

Victor Mooney, 49, told AFP he expects to set sail from Miami for New York within two weeks after the latest setback to his decade-long dream of rowing from the coast of Africa to New York.

"It's conceivable within two weeks I should be out of here, all the way to New York," Mooney said Tuesday.

It is Mooney's fourth attempt to cross the Atlantic in eight years.

His latest effort suffered a setback when his boat, the "Spirit of Malabo" was damaged by pirates during an attack off Haiti last year.

The boat was later transferred to Miami, where it has been undergoing repairs.

Mooney, whose brother died from AIDS in 1983 and who has another brother infected with HIV, said he hoped his efforts would increase understanding of the disease.

"I believe a cure is on the horizon for AIDS, but until we have a cure, education and testing is paramount to reach an AIDS-free generation," he said.