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Hurricane scuppers record attempt | Hurricane scuppers record attempt |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A former SAS commando from Cornwall has abandoned his attempt to row solo 1,940 miles (3,121km) across the Atlantic because of a hurricane in his path. | |
Peter Bray was 43 days into his attempt to row from Newfoundland to the Isles of Scilly when he was caught in 20ft (6m) swells and 46mph (74kph) winds. | |
The Plymouth-born adventurer was 920 miles (1,480km) west of the islands when he was rescued by a research ship. | |
He had been hoping to beat the 64-day world record for the crossing. | |
The 53-year-old was raising funds for Help for Heroes in the process. | |
Falmouth Coastguards helped co-ordinate the rescue and put out an emergency call for help from ships in the area. | |
'Absolutely fine' | 'Absolutely fine' |
The James Cook research vessel which was carrying out studies for the Southampton-based National Oceanography Centre, responded to the call. | |
It pulled up alongside Mr Bray's 22ft-long (7m) boat, Black Knight, shortly after 1200 BST to rescue him from the path of Hurricane Bill, which is said to be strengthening to a Category 4 in the Atlantic, with winds of up to 135mph (217kph). | |
The highest class for hurricanes is a Category 5. | |
Mr Bray, from Torpoint, scrambled up a net to board the ship and is being assessed by the crew. | |
The decision to abandon the challenge was made with great reluctance, disappointment and sadness as it took two years to plan Jim Rowlinson, support team | The decision to abandon the challenge was made with great reluctance, disappointment and sadness as it took two years to plan Jim Rowlinson, support team |
However, his boat has had to be abandoned in the water, Falmouth Coastguard said. | |
Jim Rowlinson, a spokesman for Mr Bray's support team, has been in constant contact with the rower. | |
"He is absolutely fine but the weather was really bad out there - very high seas and heavy winds," he said. | |
"The decision to abandon the challenge was made with great reluctance, disappointment and sadness as it took two years to plan. | "The decision to abandon the challenge was made with great reluctance, disappointment and sadness as it took two years to plan. |
"It was decided purely on the grounds of safety because that is paramount and a person's life is more important than anything else." | "It was decided purely on the grounds of safety because that is paramount and a person's life is more important than anything else." |
Mr Bray became the first person to kayak solo across the north Atlantic in 2001. | Mr Bray became the first person to kayak solo across the north Atlantic in 2001. |