Successful Atlantic rowers feared they would be sunk by tanker

Russell Davis and George Nelson said the ocean's danger and beauty had left them in awe

Two rowers cried with joy when they made land after a perilous 3,542-mile (5,700km) voyage across the Atlantic Ocean.

Brothers-in-law George Nelson and Russell Davis arrived in Antigua on Thursday, 98 days after embarking from Portugal.

The pair battled exhaustion, huge waves and feared they would be sunk by an oil tanker during the journey.

"There were times we thought we would die out there," Mr Nelson said.

Mr Nelson said he could barely stand when the pair arrived at port

He added: "We prepared as well as anyone could, but it felt like anything on that boat that could break, did break.

"The worst thing was the loss of the solar panels because almost everything depended on us having power.

"When they went, we struggled to navigate and had to rely on good old seamanship.

"There was a point, 1,000 miles from land, when we found ourselves on a collision course with a huge tanker.

"We had no electrical warning system to tell him we were there. We thought he would sink us.

"Luckily he saw us and we were finally able to get him on the radio. He said 'gentlemen, you're a long way from anywhere, are you sure you're OK?'

"That's the point where we could have called it a day. We were exhausted and emotional and there was the temptation to stop. But we stuck at it."

The rowers had an emotional reunion with their families

The rowers, from Mansfield in Nottinghamshire, were also blown 35 miles (56.3km) off course as their boat, called "Oar Blimey", neared their destination, but they finally made it into harbour where loved-ones were waiting for them.

Mr Nelson added: "It was amazing. A boat with a huge Antigua flag came to guide us in with all these massive millionaire's superyachts sounding their horns.

"It felt like the whole island was out to meet us. We both just cried.

"The trip has taken its toll. I've lost a stone and a half. When I got to land my legs didn't work because we've spent so long sitting down in the boat.

"We've both got these big bushy beards - when I saw myself in the mirror I jumped back thinking 'who is that guy?'"

Mr Nelson, 56, said he and Mr Davis, 57, had so far raised £27,215 for Vicky McClure's Our Dementia Choir and Help at Hand, based in Ladybrook Community Centre in Mansfield.

They are planning a celebration when they return to the UK later in March.

The pair said their shirts told the story