After a long battle against the elements to make some South, to put Boat No. 7 - Making Waves back on course for Antigua, crew members Stephanie Temperton and Rebecca Thorpe finally called Race Officer, Lucy Gross late yesterday evening to request assistance in the final stages of their voyage.

At approximately 2300 hours GMT yesterday evening (Monday 13 February 2006), Making Waves was taken under tow by the Antigua and Barbuda Search and Rescue RIB.  They were towed to the nearest landfall on Antigua, a harbour called Seatons where family, friends and other ocean rowers were eagerly waiting to greet Becky and Steph back on to dry land.

The story of the voyage for Making Waves has been a traumatic one to say the least and at the half way point the girls were at their lowest.  They discussed lots of options including getting off but pride and determination kicked in and they worked together to build up each others morale to enable them to continue.  Along the way, they also had to contend with a boat breach, broken electronics and no communication with the outside world when their sat phone broke.  But nothing was going to stop them from reaching Antigua and achieving their goal.

Although Making Waves will not be officially ranked, they did cross the Atlantic Ocean line of Longitude at 59º37W unassisted and will receive full recognition for officially rowing across the Atlantic Ocean, which so rightly derserve.

Elsewhere in the fleet, Race HQ back in England received an unusual call this afternoon from Royal Navy Ship, HMS Southampton.  HMS Southampton had been looking for female solo rower, Roz Savage in Boat No. 15 - Sedna Solo, who is sponsored by the Royal Navy.  They wanted to drop in on her to give her a valentine’s card - I'll let you know later whether they managed to locate her.

The next boat due to finish the Race is Boat No. 11 - Rowgirls.com crewed by Sally Kettle, Claire Mills and Sue McMillan who have an estimated time of arrival across the finish line of late tomorrow afternoon.