The team may be forced to lower their anchor and wait out the storm

The team set off from St John's in Newfoundland last Wednesday and hope to smash the 55-day record for the 2,100 mile crossing by at least 10 days.

But storms have raged all weekend and there are four times the usual number of icebergs near St John's.

Skipper Mark Stubbs, 40, from Poole in Dorset, said it was an "emotional yet extremely exciting experience".

Mr Stubbs, a firefighter, and his fellow oarsmen have been training for six years for their epic challenge.

His team mates are ex-SAS diver Peter Bray, 48, from Bridgend, south Wales, Jonathan Gornall, 48, a journalist from London, and digital mapping specialist John Wills, 33, from Farnham in Surrey.

Pink Lady

They plan to row in pairs for two hours at a time 24-hours a day until they arrive in Falmouth, Cornwall, in their 25ft by 6ft boat Pink Lady.

The men are hoping to raise �50,000 for the British Heart Foundation.

The current transatlantic record was set more than 100 years ago - in 1896 - and only equalled 17 years ago.

Mr Stubbs said: "Knowing that poor weather ahead might mean putting down our sea anchor, pausing on the rowing and staying secure in our watertight cabins just three days into the row adds to the pressures of an already emotional yet extremely exciting experience."

The shallow fishing waters off the coast of Newfoundland are feared by sailors for unpredictable weather, with thick fog and waves of up to 50ft forming quickly.