GALE-FORCE winds have prevented two Gwent rowing teams from starting the endurance race dubbed "the world's toughest row" today.

Organisers of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge told rowers two hours before they were due to start today that the race would be postponed until further notice.

A total of 25 teams from across the world were due to set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands bound for Antigua in the Caribbean.

Among those are four life-long friends from Caerleon, Team Oarstruck, and the Atlantic Ladies, which counts an Abergavenny mum amongst its three-woman crew.

Both crews have raised thousands of pounds between them for various charities, both local and national.

On their Facebook page Team Oarstruck, which is made up of Hugo Thompson, Joel Wood, John Morgan, and Monty Williams - all aged 26 - wrote this morning: "Today the row will not start, due to high winds, tomorrow morning 9:00am we will find out if we get clearance to begin, potential race start 13th December!"

Elaine Theaker, a lawyer from Abergavenny, told the Argus that her team will be the first three-woman team to take on the Atlantic row, while one of the crewmates could become the oldest women to complete the row at the age of 61.

But race director Carsten Horen Olsen reportedly told the teams that another decision would be made on Wednesday morning.

He said: “It’s quite mixed feelings that I have to announce to you that the race start will be delayed.”

Duty officer Ian Couch said winds of up to 40 knots on leaving the harbour would be a “baptism of fire” that would potentially put some crews in danger.

He said: “You know full well we don’t mind putting you out there if it’s going to be scary, or it’s going to be bumpy, or it’s going to be tough.

“But there has to be a line drawn between that and foolhardy."