Can we - for a while - forget about hurricanes, DeLay, LSU's blown 21-point lead against Tennessee, and raise a pint to one intrepid rower?

He got there early, looks like:

If Oliver arrives at Falmouth on 1 October he will have:

- spent 127 days at sea solo/unsupported

- rowed 3,321 miles as the crow flies from Atlantic Highlands to Falmouth

- actually rowed approx. 4,040 miles

- an average of 32miles per day


He has followed in the "footsteps" of the first ever oceanrowers Harbo & Samuelson who made the crossing in 1896 from New York to the Scillies in 55 days.

While owing to unsupportive/unprevailing winds Oliver will not have achieved the record for the fastest crossing West-East of the Atlantic he will have achieved the following:-

- youngest (at start !) to row the Atlantic solo (Sam Knight crossed from Spain to West Indies in 2004) Oliver was 23 years 175 days at the start, Sam 23 years 215 days

- one of eight ever to have rowed solo from North America to Europe (two people having done it twice)

- the first Brit to row solo from USA to Europe (the 4 Brits went from New Foundland, the 4 French from Massachusetts).

- the first person ever to row solo from New Jersey/New York to Europe.

- the longest successful crossing of the Atlantic West-East

- 12th longest solo row (usually in the Pacific).

- 4th longest row in the Atlantic.

- 5th GB solo rower Atlantic West-East.

Currently Oliver has raised £30,500 for Hope and Homes for Children. It is hoped that this will increase as a result of the publicity following his arrival