YORK teenage rower Rupert Fenby has become one of the youngest people to row the Atlantic.

As one of the 12-strong crew of The Roxy, Rupert set off from Las Galletas in Tenerife, and 42 days and 2,800 nautical miles later, arrived at Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, aged just 19 years and 113 days old.

Speaking to The Press from Antigua, Rupert said: “I feel amazing. We’re just resting up before we head off for the trip back to the UK.

“There were 12 of us in the team, and we split into groups of three, so we were three hours on and three hours off. At any one time there would be six people rowing and it was surprising that we were able to get some good rest. It sounds horrible but, by the second week, we got into the groove, and 90 minutes sleep felt like you’d had eight hours.

“Your body just got used to the complete rhythm of it all – you barely noticed it really.”

Conditions in The Atlantic can get quite horrendous but Rupert said it was “more like rowing on a mill pond” which “made things so much harder”.

“It would have been wonderful to have a following wind behind you to help but no. We were dragging three tons of boat across the ocean. It was brutal.”

Rupert, who lives in Earswick with his father Paul, 56, who works for a limestone company in United Arab Emirates, mother Lyn, 44, a teacher, and younger brothers Julian, 17, Oscar, 15, and Gus, 11, has just completed his A-levels at Uppingham School in Rutland.

And his plans for the future?

“I wouldn’t mind rowing the Pacific but that will need a lot of planning and sponsorship,” he said.

“I really don’t know what I want to do job-wise. That’s been very much questioned as we speak. I’ve had an awful lot of time to think while rowing for 42 days, and I’ve changed my mind on what I wanted to do originally, going forward.

“I’ve got a position at Exeter to study engineering management, so I’m quite looking forward to that. Then we’ll see what I want to do after that.”

Rupert’s father Paul was waiting to greet his son in Antigua and said: “Lyn and I are incredibly proud. Rupert’s worked very hard and we’re just so pleased for him. It’s been a huge team effort and Lynn’s been manning the social media at home.”

Rupert has been raising funds for charity and, if you’d like to donate, the link can be found at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/rupertrowsatlantic