An oarsman who hoped to become the fastest across the Atlantic is likely to become the slowest because of storms.

Oliver Hicks, from North London, set off from America in May with hopes of breaking the 62-day solo speed record for the west-to-east route.

He spent his 104th day at sea yesterday, overtaking the record for a man set by the French rower, Joseph Le Guen, who in 1995 took 103 days to cross the Atlantic from west to east, the harder route.

Mr Hicks, 23, does not expect to complete his journey until the end of this month, by which time he will have spent an estimated 125 days on the ocean, more than the 117 days by the slowest woman, Maud Fontenoy of France*.

He will, though, become the youngest solo rower to complete the crossing should he make it safely to Falmouth and has already become one of only 26 people known to have stayed at sea alone in a rowing boat for 100 days or more.

Mr Hicks had never sailed in the open ocean before setting out in Miss Olive, a 23ft 5in specialist rowing boat.

He is using the crossing to raise £100,000 for the Hope and Homes for Children charity, which helps children left homeless by war or disasters.

* - Maud rowed from island off Canada, the distance more than 1000miles less than from New York to Europe