Dutch team Domani 2 completed the Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge on Friday 18 January 2002 at 01.35 GMT, 21.35 local Barbadian time. Their official crossing duration was 102 days, 16 hours and 20 minutes. They become the 31st team to complete the crossing in the 2001/2002 race.

Rik Knoop and Michael Tuijn have battled hard to reach Port St Charles having found it difficult to escape the strong currents around the Canary Islands. Once they defeated the currents they never looked back and are reported to have had a great time, becoming master fishermen in the process! They also found time to celebrate the first birthday of Rik’s daughter and for Michael to propose to his partner Dilia from the middle of the Atlantic – a proposal she happily accepted.

The arrival of Domani 2 leaves two boats still rowing in the Ward Evans Atlantic Rowing Challenge. Kaos, crewed by Ben Martell and Malcolm Atkinson from Scotland had 208 miles to go at their last polled position on 17 January at 15.35. In Troika Transatlantic we find lone adventurer Debra Veal only 253 miles from Barbados at 08.18 GMT this morning, 18 January in her bid to become the 10th woman to row the Atlantic Ocean.