AFTER 78 days at sea, Teignmouth man Matt Stowers and his rowing partner Mark Jacklin have successfully completed their 3,000-mile voyage across the Atlantic.
Nearly three months after leaving San Sebastian de la Gomera in the Canaries, Matt and Mark, both officers in the RAF Regiment, crossed the finish line at Port St Charles in Barbados on Monday.
The exhausted but elated pair, one of 16 teams to start the challenge in October, joins an elite group of around 100 teams who have successfully rowed the Atlantic.
They have endured a tough and harrowing journey. Despite experiencing horrendous weather conditions for almost the whole time, as well as suffering from salt sores and being forced to spend Christmas and New Year at sea, the pair showed incredible courage and commitment throughout.
Working as a team, they certainly lived up to the name of their 24ft boat, Per Ardua, named after the motto for the RAF regiment. Translated, Per Ardua means 'through adversity'.
Money raised from sponsorship will be donated to the Philip Green Memorial Trust, a children's charity.
As they closed in on the finish, Matt and Mark experienced a particularly tough last few hours at sea, having to negotiate the notorious North Point on their way around the island to the finish line. An unforgiving stretch of coastline, North Point is where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea.
The team also faced strong currents outside the entrance to the harbour. As a result, and with only one able to row at any one time due to them having just one rowing seat still functioning, Matt and Mark reluctantly accepted a tow from the support yacht to get them through the last mile. Without this tow they would have struggled to cross the finish line. Unfortunately, this means, despite their efforts, they do not qualify for a race finish.
As they climbed on dry land for the first time, to be met by their wives, Mark explained how they had been overwhelmed by the support they received while at sea.
Mark said: 'The support from home kept us going. Every day, we were down and every day we got a message, an e-mail or a phone call that picked us up again, so the support helped us out a great deal.
'At the moment we're feeling very emotional. Last night we thought we would get in unsupported, which not many teams have done. Then, a mile out, the wind picked up to 35 knots and it just became impossible. We started to drift away and so a tow was inevitable. That said, we are more than happy with our achievement, after all we have officially rowed the Atlantic.'
Matt echoed Mark's words, adding: 'It was an emotional experience!'
Lin Parker, from race organisers Challenge Business, was impressed by the determination and courage shown by the RAF Regiment team.
'To row an ocean is an amazing feat and every time we saw or spoke to Matt and Mark they always showed great courage and determination, and high spirits, despite experiencing the worst weather of all the boats,' said Ms Parker.
'Because they had already crossed the longitude of 59 degrees 37 minutes west they had already succeeded in rowing the ocean before we gave them the tow. Well done to them both and also their supporters.'
Matt's mother, Sandra Stowers, speaking from Teignmouth, said that as a family they were all delighted that he and Mark were back safely.
'We're full of admiration for their courage and determination to finish, and how they took everything on the chin. However, it's an experience we don't want to repeat!'
Mr and Mrs Stowers plan to be at Gatwick tomorrow to greet their son on his return from Barbados.