ESSEX: Rower clinches Atlantic glory

ESSEX rower Charlie Pitcher clinched a massive victory in his 2,548-mile race across the Atlantic.

The father-of-four, 46, has battled sleep depravation, bleeding hands, salt sores and aching muscles in his seven-week charity adventure across the ocean.

But despite his hardship, he sailed into the warm waters of the West Indies nearly 400 miles clear of his nearest rival, comfortably breaking the 68-day race record.

And what is more, the Felsted hero is a complete novice – when he decided to embark on this epic voyage he had never rowed before, although he is a competent yachtsman.

Charlie, who left the Canary Islands on January 5, and has been rowing 16 hours a day ever since, is raising money for the hospital that treated his best friend, who died in 2003 after a long battle with failing kidneys.

Read the full report in this week's Chronicle.