CINCINNATI TEACHER'S COMPASS

LONDON : Cincinnati teacher completes record trans-Atlantic row. Cincinnati schoolteacher Bryce Carlson set a record for the fastest solo unsupported west-east row across the North Atlantic ocean on Saturday and also became -

The first USA citizen to complete the feat. The 37 year-old landed at the port of St Mary's in the Sicily Isles, off the coast of south-west England, some 38 days six hours and 49 minutes after he set off from St John's Newfoundland.

The previous record for the solo west=east crossing was 53 days eight hours and 26 minutes set by Canadian Laval St. Germain in 2016, according to the Ocean Rowing Society. St Germain rowed a slightly longer route from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Brest in France.

Asked how he was feeling as he came ashore in front of a crowd of onlookers after rowing some  2,300 nautical miles through major storms and several capsizes, Carlson replied : ''A little wobbly''.

Speaking to media later by telephone from a nearby restaurant, where he ordered cod wrapped in  prosciutto as his first proper meal after endless dehydrated rations, Carlson spoke of his achievement.

''I think the effort of last month a half has to some extent numbed me a little bit. So I think it's going  to sink in waves,'' he said.

''Carlson's 20-foot boat ''Lucille'' was equipped with plenty of technology and electronic equipment to help him on a relatively straight course and fully informed about weather conditions.

But there were still plenty of hair-raising moments on the vast ocean.

''The boast capsized over a dozen times,'' he said. ''The first one was the most terrifying. I had inadvertently left an air vent in the boat open and so the boat went upside down and water started pouring in.

''So you're in this really stormy environment, boat goes upside down, i wake up on the ceiling,'' added the American.

The water also got behind the electrical panel, which meant connections eventually became corroded and the equipment less reliable.

On the plus side were all those moments where Carlson faced immense challenges and came out on top. [Agencies]