Dismay for Atlantic rowers

The four-strong crew was waiting for rescuers to pluck them from their stricken vessel.

The crossing was aborted after the boat's rudder was sliced in two by a freak wave.

Last night, a ship was steaming towards the Skandia Atlantic Spirit and was expected to arrive at 5am today to bring the team to safety from the North Atlantic. It is hoped they can be brought aboard and their vessel towed to safety.

Relatives were last night waiting further news on George Rock and Nigel Morris, from Ingleby Barwick, on Teesside, and crewmates Mark Stubbs and Rob Munslow.

The team had hoped to cross the ocean in less than 35 days - shattering the existing record of 55 days - and were on target to do so. Now they are expected to arrive back in the UK next week - having failed in their brave record attempt.

The progress of the Skandia Atlantic Spirit came to a shuddering halt at 10.20pm on Sunday - exactly half way through the 2,100-mile journey from Newfoundland to Falmouth.

During a storm the boat was hit by what crew members described as "a rogue wave".

Emergency services were put on standby while the crew, drifting without a rudder and being blown along by a 20mph westerly wind, attempted for a full day to carry out emergency repairs. The crew initially carried out running repairs using spare parts on the 30ft boat.

But the force of the water proved too great and the rudder broke again at 2pm yesterday. Two hours later, the crew was forced to admit defeat and abandon the record attempt on the 21st day

A spokesman for the expedition said last night that the crew members were upset by the end of the attempt.

He added: "The shore crew were immediately notified and a recovery plan has been set in motion to rescue the crew.

"The crew are all well and in no immediate danger - they are in constant communication with their shore crew."

The attempt has been dogged with problems - the start was delayed by several days following bad weather on the Canadian coast.