THE Atlantic Rowing Race, now in its second week, has seen its second crew retirement as crews have headed south to pick up the trade winds which will help to carry them across the Atlantic.

The gruelling 2,550 nautical mile race from San Sebastian on the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands to English Harbour on Antigua includes seven solos, 20 pairs and three fours.

Amongst the entrants are Dave Brooks from Trusham in the Teign Valley who is rowing solo aboard the 24-foot ocean rowing boat Team Panasonic; Jo Langmead of Dartmouth who is aboard the all female four Mission Atlantic; and Stu Burbridge, 34, a doctor from North Devon, who spent five years at Torbay Hospital from February 2001 to August 2006 undergoing surgical training. He rows in the pair Ocean Summit.

The first retirement came before the race started with Tom Lee withdrawing from the pair Dream it, Do it. He withdrew because the month delay in getting the race off meant another month off work which he could not justify.

The second retirement affects the fours section of the race in which Langmead is competing.

Limited Intelligence, the four-man crew from Gloucestershire, officially retired from the race after 29 year old Benjy Thomasson got off the boat on Friday for personal reasons. His three former crewmates intend to carry on without him, but won't be eligible for a race position.

Langmead and Mission Atlantic are in the middle of the pack, currently tenth, and it's a similar situation for 'Ocean Summit', currently 15th. Dave Brooks, currently 16th, is progressing well and is the second placed solo.