A GRUELLING attempt to break the world record for rowing across the Atlantic Ocean is under way with four Durham University graduates making up part of the team.

Team Hallin are trying to row from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean in fewer than 30 days.

They are hoping to end their 3,000-mile journey in Barbados but already the team has faced nearly being hit by a ship and burnt by the flare set off to warn it to change its course. Naomi Hoogesteger, who teaches modern languages at Durham University, was hit on the leg and burnt.

She said: “There was a very big cargo ship that just turned course and came directly towards us.

“Someone set off a white flare which usually means change your course, don’t come any nearer but, because of the wind, it just blew some into my leg and I got a bit burnt.”

The existing record for crossing east to west is just over 33 days, so they are doing continual shifts with three of the team rowing for two hours at a time, while the other three eat and try to rest.

Each person rows two hours on, two hours off, two hours on, two hours off with no change and no break.

Ms Hoogesteger added: “You get so tired. Obviously the night shift is quite difficult because you’re naturally meant to be asleep at that time.”

As well as attempting to break the world record they’re trying to raise £60,000 for the charity Combat Stress which cares for ex-servicemen and women.

If all goes according to plan they will complete their voyage from Tenerife to Barbados around February 5.