Atlantic rowers Stu Turnbull and Ed Bayliss were able to celebrate the New Year mid-ocean.

The intrepid pair set out on December 20 from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to row 2,934 miles to Antigua in the West Indies.

Gales and huge seas have confronted them through the first leg of their trip.

They aim to beat the world record for the crossing of 40 days and in so doing raise £250,000 for Cancer Research UK.

Student doctor Mr Turnbull, from Broad Town, and Mr Bayliss, a former banker turned entrepreneur from Dorset, are both 26.

They are following the same route as Christopher Columbus but without the advantage of sail power.

However, one advantage they have over the 15th century sailor is that they have satellite navigation and know their position to within a metre.

The pair have been averaging between 40 to 50 miles a day and are on course to beat the 40 day record.

They also have a satellite phone and on New Year's Day sent a message saying they had a surreal celebration mid Atlantic feasting on Amaretti biscuits and marzipan provided by Mr Turnbull's mother.

From the GPS-position: N 232324' - W 0225725' they sent the following message: "A very big happy New Year to everybody from us in the pond .

"We planned to see in 2007 with a swig of whiskey and a cigar but were both a bit worn down for this and instead made our New Year's resolutions - to row even harder this year.

"Being day 13 we were expecting some more of our previous luck to come charging forth but no change there for better or worse.

"We're still being battered by this gale but have tried to get as many miles under the belt as possible, some absolutely giant waves and a real rodeo ride.

"When out here at sea it is easy to become superstitious and in this vein I composed a letter to the Ocean (or Big Blue Bertha as we have come to know her) requesting a truce and asking her permission to quietly row to the other side.

"This evening the conditions are looking slightly less savage. It might just work."

Mr Turnbull went to Wroughton Junior School and Ridgeway School before going to Gordonstoun to complete his A levels.

His father, Prof Gordon Turnbull, was the psychiatrist who helped debrief the Beirut hostages, including Terry Waite and John McCarthy, after their release.

His girlfriend Penelope Fisher from Norfolk will be in Antigua when the pair arrive.