Simon Chalk: "I'm really happy"

Simon Chalk is currently 45 days and 1,358 nautical miles into his voyage from Kalbarri, Western Australia, to Reunion Island, with 2,267 nautical miles still to go.

He had already given up hope of completing his journey within 64 days, to break what he thought was the record set by the first and only other oarsman to complete the solo row, Swede Anders Svedlund in 1971.

But a spokesman for the Ocean Rowing Society said that while there was no doubt the Swede pulled off the rowing feat, there were no accurate details of his date of arrival in Madagascar, west of Reunion Island, from Kalbarri.

I simply cannot believe the boat has stood up to it Simon Chalk Click here to read all his diaries

The Swede - who has since died - told no one he had completed the rowing marathon, and the society was now trying to contact his family to see whether they could provide any evidence of his arrival date.

Property developer Mr Chalk, 30, from Newton Abbot, said in his diary for BBC Devon Online: "Obviously that's good news. I'm really happy with that.

"Now perhaps we'll have some decent easterly weather and my daily mileage will stay up in the 40s."

Mr Chalk said he had recently had what he calls a crossing sea.

He said: "I've got waves coming from behind and wind-generated waves hitting me from the side, and their force is unbelievable.

"I simply cannot believe the boat has stood up to it."

Mr Chalk is rowing the route alone because his rowing partner Rob Munslow pulled out of the attempt.

His last attempt on the Indian Ocean last May ended with he and his partner clinging to their capsized boat for 15 hours in shark infested waters before they were rescued.