Atlantic record broken by rowers

Mike Tooth, 49, Julian Barnwell, 40, and Liam Hughes, 52, from Norfolk, landed in Barbados on Thursday night with Charlie Taylor, 31, from Suffolk.

The crew led by Scottish adventurer Leven Brown set off from Gran Canaria on 15 December and beat the record set by a French team in 1992 by two days.

The 53ft (18m) boat made the crossing in 33 days, seven hours and 30 minutes.

Mr Tooth from Norwich, Mr Barnwell from Wroxham, Mr Hughes from Wymondham and Mr Taylor from Southwold, were among the 14 rowers on board La Mondiale, which landed in Port St Charles Barbados at 2040 GMT.

Leader's Columbus claim

The boat was racing head-to-head against a US multi-hulled rowing boat called Orca, which left the Canaries at the same time.

The Ocean Rowing Society International said the 14-man crewed La Mondiale had already broken a 24-hour distance record of 117 miles.

It had also become the first ocean rowing boat to travel more than 100 miles per day for nine consecutive days.

A total of 60 previous attempts have failed to better the time set by the French.

The crew's leader Leven Brown claims he is descended from Christopher Columbus.

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