Sittingbourne woman Katherine Windsor has completed her mission to row 3,000 miles unassisted across the Atlantic.

Windsor was part of the Ace of Blades foursome who travelled from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua, raising more than £70,000 for charity.

They started their epic journey on December 13, arriving at English Harbour in the Caribbean on January 29.

Windsor, together with team-mates Beth Motley, Lizz Watson and Laura Langton, finished the event - entitled ‘The World’s Toughest Row - Atlantic’ – in 47 days, seven hours and 27 minutes.

For the duration of the journey, the team rowed in shift patterns of two hours on, two hours off.

They burned more than 5,000 calories a day while enduring salt sores, blisters, sleep deprivation and sea sickness.

Regularly encountering 30ft waves and winds of up to 30mph which threatened to capsize the boat, the team also had to grapple with several technical trials and tribulations.

“The crossing was really tough – it stripped you bare and demanded love and tolerance in equal measure,’ said Windsor, a former pupil at Highsted Grammar School.

“I don’t think I have ever laughed and cried quite as much as we did in those 47 days.

“The row itself was bookended by some really tough conditions.

“The last week in particular was pretty gruelling mentally and physically because, while the end was in sight, the weather wasn’t always in our favour on our approach to English Harbour.

“That said the night sky took your breath away, spotting dolphins and whales tailing our boat never failed to be thrilling, and none of us had ever before experienced the pure unadulterated elation we felt on seeing and hearing our families as we crossed the finish.

“They are memories we will all cherish for the rest of our lives.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better three women to take on this challenge with.

“Daily pep talks enabled us to help each other through tricky times and wobbles and gave us the opportunity to reflect on and acknowledge success and progress.

“When it really mattered, we got our heads down and worked as a team to achieve our one resounding goal - to step on to that pontoon at the end better friends than when we left La Gomera.

“I couldn’t be prouder of us for achieving this.”

The team, who finished 22nd, were fundraising for Prostate Cymru, The Outward Bound Trust, The Charlie Waller Trust and Macmillan Cancer Support.