Teams rowing the Atlantic brought together on air

Two Devon rowing teams battling across the Atlantic have been brought together via a radio interview.

John Acres at Breakfast on BBC Radio Devon connected two rowing teams - Mayflower Atlantic Challenge and Atlantic Sea Donkeys - as they navigated from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua, about 3,000 miles away.

Both teams shared their experiences, including being hit by a stream of flying fish.

The Sea Donkeys said one team member, Niels Bardoel, was hit five times in one night by the "smelly" creatures.

The Sea Donkeys and the Mayflower rowers set off with nearly 40 teams from 21 countries in the race called the World's Toughest Row on 11 December.

The Sea Donkeys, who are Jack Southward and Dexter Williamson from Plymouth, Ben Cianchi from Bristol and Mr Bardoel from Sydney, Australia, are among the front runners in the race, but still have more than 800 miles to the finish.

They are being followed by the Mayflower team of Paul Adams, Glynne Dunn and Dan Lewis from Wembury, near Plymouth, and former Plymothian Dan Wooler.

Speaking to each other via the radio, Mr Lewis from the Mayflower team asked: "How are you dealing with flying fish?

"We seem to spend our days and nights clearing them off the deck.

"They're the smelliest, most horrible things, and yet we have them all over the place."

Mr Williamson from Atlantic Sea Donkeys said: "I think our record for one person is Niels being hit five times in one night by flying fish.

"It's a unique experience."

Teammate Mr Southward joked: "Neil seems to be a magnet for flying fish.

"I think it's just because he's the biggest one, the biggest target."

The camaraderie between the teams was evident.

Mr Wooler on the Mayflower team said the Donkeys were "doing awesome".

"They've done incredibly well. They've been rowing three up and really going for it.

"And guys, we're really proud of you, you're doing awesome."

Mr Cianci from the Donkeys said: "We know how testing it's been, and we've been quite lucky, I think, to avoid some of the worst conditions that you guys have been hit by.

"It's really nice to be able to chat to you guys and have that shared experience."

The Sea Donkeys also promised that if they arrived in Antigua first they would have beers lined up for Team Mayflower..

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