ONE of Kent’s most prominent businessmen has realised a long-term ambition by sailing across the Atlantic – at the age of 71.

Edwin Boorman, president of the Kent Messenger Group, was taking part in the World Cruising Club’s Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC).

Sailing in his 40ft ketch Messenger, Mr Boorman and his crew of five friends arrived safe and well in Caribbean island of St Lucia at 2.16am on Monday.

It took 21 days, 13 hours and 16 minutes to cross from Las Palmas to Rodney Bay in St Lucia.

Mr Boorman's PA, Penny Dyson, said: "They are all well and, as you can imagine, on a high that they have completed the crossing.

"Edwin has asked me to thank everyone for their support and encouragement."

Organisers had anticipated it would take between 12 and 24 days for the 300 competitors to compete the 2,700 nautical miles to the finish in St Lucia.

Mr Boorman was chairman of the KM Group for 19 years before he became its president. Until now, his longest voyage in Messenger had been about 1,000 miles.

Mr Boorman, a deputy lieutenant of Kent and a former High Sheriff of the county, spent weeks preparing with his crew for the challenge.

His campanions were John Taylor, from Staplehurst; Robert Filmer, from Cliffe; Ray Ingram, from Sutton Valence; Julian Croysdill, from Sandhurst and Paddy Armstrong, from Leeds.