Scots set Atlantic rowing record

Published on Friday 18 January 2008 00:53

THERE were champagne celebrations in Barbados last night after a rowing team led by three Edinburgh adventurers smashed the record for crossing the Atlantic.

Leven Brown, Rob Lyder Simmons and Reinhardt Von Hof were part of a 14-man team that arrived in Port St Charles after a journey from the Canaries that lasted 33 days and seven hours – breaking the previous French record by two days.

The crew were "elated but tired" as they sailed into harbour in La Mondiale – a restored boat, which also set the record 16 years ago.

For Mr Brown, 35, a stock- broker turned adventurer, it was the second Atlantic record in two years.

The skipper of La Mondiale, who claims to be a descendent of Christopher Columbus, broke the record for a solo row in 2006, when he made the journey in 123 days.

Mr Brown, who was joined in his celebrations by his partner Yvette Jelfs and 15-month-old daughter Pickle, said the task was a gruelling one, but the crew was delighted to have beaten the record. "I am very wobbly," he said. "But it is a great feeling, it's fantastic. I'm off the boat, my daughter is in my arms, it's wonderful."

Ms Jelfs said the crew members had put "everything" into the record and now they were going to celebrate.

Mr Brown's mother, Her-mione, who lives in Melrose, also flew to Barbados to welcome La Mondiale. She told The Scotsman last night: "Everyone is just hugely proud of what they have done. They all look healthy and wonderfully well."

The Ocean Rowing Society International said La Mondiale has already broken a 24-hour record of 117 miles and became the first ocean rowing boat to travel more than 100 miles per day for nine consecutive days.