City rowers break transatlantic record with two days to spare

Published on Friday 18 January 2008 09:40

A TEAM of rowers led by three Edinburgh adventurers have broken the world record for crossing the Atlantic.

Skipper Leven Brown, Rob Loder-Symonds and Reinhardt Von Hof, along with 11 other rowers on board La Mondiale landed in Port St Charles Barbados last night, beating the previous record by more than two days. The crew left Puerto Mogan in Gran Canaria on December 15 and during their journey they frequently rowed more than 100 miles a day. The official time for the record was 33 days, seven hours and 30 minutes.

Mr Brown, 35, a stockbroker from Abbeyhill, was joined in his celebrations by his 15-month-old daughter Pickle.

He said the task was a gruelling one, but they were delighted to have beaten the record. "I am very wobbly," the 35-year-old said. "But it is a great feeling. I'm off the boat, my daughter is in my arms, it's wonderful."