IT has been 23 days since the crewmen of the Nattie B began their courageous voyage across the North Atlantic.

But, despite severe sleep deprivation and a brutal 18-hour storm in which high winds battered the vessel and waves continuously smashed over the crew, their spirits remain high and their determination undeterred.

When The Northern Echo spoke to Stockton crew member George Rock on Tuesday, they were well past the half-way mark -the point where they failed in the record attempt two years ago.

So, with the extra boost to their morale, they have been more than spurred on towards the finishing line, and are hoping to make it into Falmouth on July 9.

And, after spending an estimated 39 gruelling days at sea, they look set to smash the world record by an impressive 16 days.

Sounding upbeat and energetic, 42-year-old Mr Rock, from Ingleby Barwick, said the past two days had been extremely hard.

"We are fine, but I am soaking wet at the moment," said the father-of-two.

"It has rained for 18 hours solid as we travelled through a terrible storm.

"It was like being sat in a shower all night, the rain was that heavy. We had some big seas and the waves were coming over the boat all the time.

"All of a sudden, we would hear a roar and the white foam would come over the boat. It was brutal."

Mr Rock has been joined on the attempt by Nigel Morris, also from Ingleby Barwick, in Stockton, as well as Rob Munslow, Steven Dawson and reserve rower Garry Smith.

They left Newfoundland in Canada on May 31 for the 2,100-mile journey to the South Coast of England, with the aim of breaking the world record for the west to east trip.

It was first completed in 55 days in 1896 by George Harbo, and then equalled in 1987 by Tom McLean.

The crew are travelling non-stop, with two members rowing together for two hours at a time before swapping over, so their main problem is tiredness.

Mr Rock said: "I am missing my family -and sausage rolls.

"I never eat sausage rolls normally, but I have a craving for them here. And a good night's sleep is what we are missing.

"It is difficult getting back up so soon after getting into a deep sleep, but once you are rowing again, you are okay. But I think we have all lost a lot of weight; between half a stone and a stone. It's tough."

Despite having strange dreams, being constantly waterlogged and living in cramped conditions, the men are kept going by the fact that the world record is almost in their grasp.

Mr Rock said: "We are certainly hoping to break the record. We are on target to get in on about 39, 40 days, if not earlier, so long as we do not get more bad weather.

"But until then we are just having a laugh and enjoying ourselves.

"The clouds are breaking and we have some good weather ahead of us.

"We are all missing our families and are looking forward to seeing them in Falmouth."