(From left) Tom Rendell, Ed James, captain Dom Mee and Peter Bird are all smiles after arriving in Barbados.

by CLIFTON HENRY

ON JANUARY 14, Tom Rendell, Ed James, Peter Bird and Dom Mee left Las Palmas in the Canary Islands in a 26-ft vessel aiming to be the first team from Britain to break the Atlantic rowing record by reaching Barbados in fewer
than 35 days.

Despite a gallant effort, the team fell short by two days. Their time of 37 days (888 hours, nine minutes) qualified them for the third fastest time in the history of any crossing within the same distance.

The world record for the fastest crossing, known as the "Blue Ribbon of Ocean Rowing", is currently held by a French team who achieved the feat in 1992.

Speaking with WEEKENDSPORTS after setting foot on Barbadian soil at the new headquarters of the Barbados Coast Guard on Spring Garden on Tuesday, Mee said that while there were no major alarms, rough weather might have caused them to lose out on the record.

"A bad weather system caused us to hold up for four days; this meant we lost about 400 miles. However, we are very thankful we made it in one piece," said the former royal marine.

"All the guys are happy with the result even though it was not what we initially wanted, but we are very happy for all the support and to be reunited with our families who flew in from Britain to meet us here."

Describing their home for the past 37 days, Mee said the boat, 26ft long by 5ft wide, was one of the fastest of its kind and unsinkable.

"We took turns sleeping for two-hour intervals, sleeping inside the little cabins in a sitting position, of course. The tasks were rotated: while two cooked, two would keep the boat moving," he added.

The team said they would be spending some time in Barbados before returning home.

And do they intend to take on the rowing challenge again?

"Maybe, but not any time soon," Mee, an international marine explorer, declared.