The Scilly Boys - the four rowers from the Isles of Scilly whose world record breaking attempt to row the North Atlantic ended in disaster are on their way home.

The rowers were hit by two massive waves, forcing them to abandon ship and spend eight hours adrift in the Atlantic in mountainous seas.

Tomorrow morning they set off on the final leg home when they board the Scillonian at Penzance Quay having been taken to Gibraltar and ready to fly back to the UK.

Having been aboard a freighter bound for Gibraltar and unable to give their own stories since they were rescued, they can expect a welcome ceremony ast the Quay, Penzance in the morning.

The four rowers had been trying to beat the 100-year-old record for rowing from New York to Bishop's Rock.

Their vessel overturned 13 days into the voyage in 40 ft high seas.

A support team went out to meet the rowers in Gibraltar.

Tim Garratt, 27, Chris Jenkins, 43, Joby Newton, 19, and Wayne Davey, 30, were 650 miles off the US coast when they hit trouble.

The spent some time clinging to a life raft before they were picked up by the oil tanker Gulf Grace.

The team thanked all those who had rescued them via their website and said: "We are sorry to friends and family that the anxiety caused was not outweighed by the successful completion of our record attempt.

"The desire to complete the crossing for the Islands was the same desire that gave us the drive to survive in those conditions throughout the night.

"The messages of support were a constant reminder of why we needed to survive our ordeal, and make it back home to our families."

They had been aiming to beat the record for a four-person crew of 55 days and 13 hours.