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| Hurricane scuppers record attempt | Hurricane scuppers record attempt |
| (about 3 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Falmouth Coastguards helped co-ordinate the rescue and put out an emergency call for help from ships in the area. |
| Peter Bray said it was heart-breaking to give up on the voyage | |
| The James Cook research vessel, which was carrying out studies for the Southampton-based National Oceanography Centre, responded to the call. | 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). | 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. | The highest class for hurricanes is a Category 5. |
| Mr Bray, from Torpoint, scrambled up a net to board the ship. He praised his rescuers but said it was a "heartbreaking decision". | Mr Bray, from Torpoint, scrambled up a net to board the ship. He praised his rescuers but said it was a "heartbreaking decision". |
| He said: "I'm pleased I've been rescued. The ship was fantastic, the way they did it and their seamanship was superb. | He said: "I'm pleased I've been rescued. The ship was fantastic, the way they did it and their seamanship was superb. |
| "On the other side, I'm very gutted. But if you go in to a hurricane, and anything happens, you're into a whole new ball game. | "On the other side, I'm very gutted. But if you go in to a hurricane, and anything happens, you're into a whole new ball game. |
| "But the decision's made, so you can't go going round with a long face. You've made your decision, you've got to live with it. So, hey, let's live for another day." | "But the decision's made, so you can't go going round with a long face. You've made your decision, you've got to live with it. So, hey, let's live for another day." |
| 'High seas' | 'High seas' |
| His boat has had to be abandoned in the water, Falmouth Coastguard said. | His boat has had to be abandoned in the water, Falmouth Coastguard said. |
| Jim Rowlinson, a spokesman for Mr Bray's support team, said he kept in constant contact with the rower during the decision to abandon his vessel. | Jim Rowlinson, a spokesman for Mr Bray's support team, said he kept in constant contact with the rower during the decision to abandon his vessel. |
| "He is absolutely fine but the weather was really bad out there - very high seas and heavy winds," he said. | "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. |