THE Lyme Regis conquering heroes are back on dry land after their record-breaking row across the Atlantic in 48 days, eight hours and three minutes.

The Corinthians – Brian Fletcher, Chris Walters, Tony Short and Elliot Dale – raced 2,550 nautical miles from the Canary Islands to Barbados in the 2011 Talisker Challenge.

They made it in less time than they expected despite heavy seas and technical difficulties.

Supporters gathered in Lyme to cheer their final moments letting off fireworks a minute after they crossed the finishing line at 8.03pm on Sunday.

They had expected to be in Barbados by around 4pm but the Atlantic had more rough conditions to throw at them and they came in four hours later.

The team’s administrator and friend Andrew Pocock has been working on the challenge since the idea came up in 2009.

He said: “It is a fantastic achievement, it really is. They came in sixth out of 42 original teams that signed up to do the race. Only 18 actually got to the start line.

“It is my own personal opinion that they would have been vying for third place if the autohelm hadn’t broken.

“There is terrific enthusiasm and admiration for what they have done, in the Lyme area.

“We are talking about the best way we can recognise that when they are home.”

The four-man team were raising money for ShelterBox and The British Heart Foundation The project has cost more than £100,000 but the amount going to the charities is not final yet.

They are now hoping to sell the boat to bring in more revenue for the charities. Mr Pocock is expecting the team to be back in Lyme by this time next week.

He will also be waiting to hear the result of the team’s application to the Guinness Book of Records.

Mr Pocock added: “Tony at 67 the oldest rower in modern history to row the Atlantic and the team’s combined ages are well in excess of what anybody has done before.”

On the Spirit of Corinth website the team said: “This has literally been one hell of a rollercoaster ride, and so very hard. Our target was to make land in 50 days.

“We really have to thank our families, and those of you who’ve supported us over the two years leading up to this challenge.”