After 111 days and 2,963 miles, Mrs Veal's boat comes in

Debra Veal, the British woman rower who has spent almost four months rowing across the Atlantic single-handed, arrived safely in Port St Charles, Barbados, yesterday.

A jubilant Mrs Veal arrived shortly after 11am local time, some distance behind the winners of the race. Her husband was there to welcome her as she became the 11th woman, six of them British, to row an ocean.

Mrs Veal was at a loss for words. "I can't think, I'm too excited!" she said.

Mrs Veal, 27, from Teddington in south-west London, left the Canary Islands on 7 October last year with her husband Andrew. She was forced to carry on alone when, two weeks out of port, Mr Veal developed an intense fear of the ocean and suffered a series of crippling panic attacks.

Despite 15 years' experience as a top-level rower, he was forced to pull out of the race, and Mrs Veal decided to continue alone.

She rowed the specially designed 750kg yacht Troika Transatlantic for 14 weeks. She rose at 5.30am every morning and rested for short periods during the day to conserve energy.

The Veals, who have been married for three years, were the only husband-and-wife entry out of 36 pairs of amateur rowers when they set off.

Kenneth Crutchlow, executive director of the Ocean Rowing Society, said: "I think it's an incredible achievement and she should be congratulated."

Mike Kenney, chief executive of event sponsor Ward Evans said: "Debra has shown exceptional courage and determination to complete this awesome challenge and she is a real role model and inspiration."