The victory was even more enjoyable for the crew having shaved two days off the previous record.

Mr Collins said: "We've got a big thing on the boat about superstition - so I don't say anything about times, records, I hate it.

"We tried to keep it as quiet as possible and I don't think we fully admitted it until yesterday."

Mr Simpson, an investment broker from London, said their success was largely down to good self-discipline and refusing to argue with each other on the 29ft carbon fibre vessel - despite falling asleep on shift as he struggled to adjust to rowing through the night.

He said: "We've all probably done things that might have annoyed another person.

"We never raised it, always let it go.

"It was a respect that that person was struggling so you let it go.

"There was never a bad word said on the boat. Everything was forgotten about.

"Crews cross this ocean and fall out, and you have to remember that we all had the same goal - win the race."