Simon Chalk has been rowing the Indian Ocean for 77 days

Ocean rower Simon Chalk has admitted his record attempt has been blown so far off course that he will have to change his destination.

Mr Chalk, from Newton Abbot in Devon, was aiming to row the Indian Ocean from Australia to Reunion Island.

But after 77 days at sea, he revealed the winds had been so strong that Madagascar was looking a more likely landing point at the end of his record-breaking row.

In the latest message on his website at BBC Devon Online, the 30-year-old said there was little chance of getting back on his original course.

"The wind's been blowing me along, but in the wrong direction again.

"I really need to get south, but the wind has taken me north.

The islands to the north are only about a mile long, so it's going to be interesting if we decide to go that way Simon Chalk Click here to read all his diaries

"I'm now 200 miles too far to the north and I've got very little chance of getting back down south."

He said that feeling had been confirmed by the weather router and he was now looking at alternative plans.

"There are two or three tiny islands I could aim for to the north, and if I miss those there is Madagascar.

"I'm not sure what the political state of that country is at the moment, but it's not a good place to land to be honest.

"The record is from land to land across the Indian Ocean.

Destination point

"We chose Reunion because it was the largest island off the coast of Madagascar and it's got infrastructure that will enable us to get the boat back home.

"The islands to the north are only about a mile long, so it's going to be interesting if we decide to go that way."

Mr Chalk said a final decision on his destination point would be made in the next week or so.

But, despite the problems, he admitted he was still really enjoying the experience.

"Everything's working well and I still can't believe how lucky I am to be here."