Rowers' record bid sunk

The Dartmouth-based team set off from the Canaries on 20 January

A group of Devon rowers have failed in their attempt to beat the record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean in a rowing boat.

The Dartmouth-based team set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands on 20 January on their 2,907-mile journey.

They were six and a half hours outside the record when they arrived in Barbados just after 0200 local time (0600GMT) on Wednesday.

However, the Devon crew of Phil Langman, Jason Hart and Yorkie Lomas from Dartmouth, and Shaun Barker, who now lives in Paignton, are the first four-man crew to make the crossing.

To be met by two yachts with family and friends was an incredible feeling Shaun Barker Find out more at BBCi Devon

They should also beat the current record for a small rowing boat of 40 days.

The outright crossing record was set by an 11-strong French crew, who crossed the Atlantic in 35 days, eight hours and 30 minutes in 1992.

Unfavourable wind conditions and a few problems on board their 24-feet carbon fibre boat Queensgate had been holding them back on the last leg of the journey.

But the crew was still overjoyed at the achievement.

Shaun Barker, said: "It still hasn't sunk in. I'm just sitting here trying to take it all in.

"We just set out to row the ocean, and to do it in such a quick time and to be so close to the overall record is just unbelievable. We're absolutely thrilled.

"It would have been faster, but we had virtually no wind in the last 48 hours.

"To be met by two yachts with family and friends was an incredible feeling. We came in at sunrise - it was great."