The rowers have had to negotiate waves as big as houses

Two former soldiers attempting a record-breaking row across the Indian Ocean are making good progress after a bout of horrendous weather.

Mike Noel-Smith, 45, and Rob Abernethy, 31, are taking part in a gruelling journey of 4,400 nautical miles from Carnarvon, Western Australia, to Reunion Island, east of Madagascar, in Africa.

The pair, who set off last month, have seen waves as high as houses and endured days of stormy weather, they said on Thursday.

But Mr Noel-Smith, from Much Dewchurch, Herefordshire, and Mr Abernethy, from south London, have now passed the first major obstacles of their mission, having cleared the Continental Shelf and the Lewin Current.

We have had the equivalent of the 70-year storm from the film Point Break Mike Noel-Smith and Rob Abernethy

The ex-army officers hope to beat the current unofficial record set in 1971 of 64 days and become the first double ocean row boat to complete the journey.

They aim to set a Guinness World Record of 60 days and raise �250,000 for children's charity Sparks - Sport Aiding Medical Research for Kids.

The pair described the worst weather, which occurred over the Bank Holiday weekend, on their website: "We have had the equivalent of the 70-year storm from the film Point Break.

They added: "During this storm the boat has been almost vertical at the top of the waves."

The pair are rowing their 21ft long boat in two-hour stints, 24 hours a day, except when they need to take shelter.

Devouring 6,000 calories a day to keep up their strength, the men have been tucking into chicken and pasta with Worcestershire sauce - currently their favourite dish.