Two Cornish rowers from the Roseland Gig Club taking part in the great Atlantic rowing race had to be rescued after their boat pitch-poled on Sunday just over 100 miles from the finishing line.

Bob Warren, 40, from St Mawes and Chris Barrett, 41 from Hayle, are safe and well having been picked up from a liferaft in the middle of the night on Sunday. They were due to arrive in Antigua yesterday.

Their boat, made and launched in Cornwall and appropriately named Spirit of Cornwall was left wallowing in heavy seas.

An electronic SOS had been sent from the Spirit of Cornwall by the rowers when they were 180 miles east of the finish in Antigua. This is where they were later taken by the support vessel Aurora.

Norma Fowler, from the Spirit of Cornwall team, said the men were experienced rowers but they had not undertaken any trip of this magnitude - previously the longest trip was three days.

"Both of them are highly experienced in the water - they know and respect it. It's just a disaster for them."

The distress signal was picked up by Falmouth Maritime and Rescue Co-ordination Centre. A French aircraft sent from Martinique located the Spirit of Cornwall.

Falmouth coastguards arranged for the merchant vessel Rainbow and UK warship HMS Southampton to head for the area as well.

Charles Warren from Point, father of Bob, said at first the two rowers could not be seen but a red flare was then spotted and the life-raft located them.

Due to the sea conditions, it was a hairy transfer but both men "were on their feet" and appeared well.

They had little alternative after their boat, which had self-righted, took on too much water. It had been agreed to take to the liferaft.

Mr Warren srn said it was 3pm on Sunday when the beacon was activated and coastguards swung into action.

By 10pm it was clear the rowers had abandoned their boat and by 3.50am a red flare was sent up and seen by one of the search vessels. At 5am both men were reported safe and well aboard the Aurora.

After travelling 2,730 miles it was disappointing not to make the finish, said Mr Warren. But they had been in some of the most difficult weather conditions for the time of year and taking the route they did which was southerly.

He hoped an attempt would be made to salvage the Spirit of Cornwall which was to be shipped back to Falmouth and put on display at the National Maritime Museum.

The wives of the two men had flown to Antigua at the weekend to welcome their husbands who were due to arrive in today, had they completed the race.

Mr Warren said he had nothing but praise and thanks for the Falmouth coastguards who had kept the families fully informed throughout the ordeal.

Andy Cattrell, watch manager of MRCC Falmouth, said: "This was a prolonged operation with some difficult communications involved.

"The vessels involved are to be commended for their professionalism in carrying out this rescue in darkness and difficult sea conditions."

Olympic champion James Cracknell and TV presenter Ben Fogle survived a terrifying capsize en route to third place in the same race which 26 competitors had entered.

There have also been other rescues during the crossing from the Canaries which began before Christmas.

Woodvale Events, organisers of the race said the rescue had been carried out in what could only be described as "very difficult conditions."

Bob Warren, who rows for the Roseland Gig Club, runs his own sailing school and teaches at Truro School, is well known in the Falmouth area as is his colleague Chris, a builder, who used to row for Penryn Rowing Club and is now a regular with the Roseland Gig Club.

The National Maritime Museum had been keen to accept the Spirit of Cornwall, on her return home in March, as part of the soon-to-be launched Endurance and Survival exhibition.

The exhibit was to have taken pride of place as the very first object visitors saw when entering the museum.

For the first stage of the race, Bob and Chris had taken the lead but on Fridcay were in third place.

Norma Edwards, who is also the Roseland gig club secretary, said: "I don't think everyone realises just how tough the Atlantic Rowing Race really is."