YOU might think that after 33 days at sea, rowing 12 hours a day and getting next to no sleep, the only thing on your mind would be finding a comfy bed to lie down on.
But for Edinburgh adventurer Leven Brown, whose team have just completed the fastest row across the Atlantic in history, getting rest is the last thing on his mind.
The 35-year-old stockbroker from Abbeyhill said he was "humbled" by the reception he and his crew received after they won the "Blue Riband" Trophy for Ocean Rowing by completing the fastest row across the Atlantic in history.
And he is already planning a re-match against the American team racing against them, who have still to complete the crossing.
Mr Brown had hoped to attempt record-breaking crossings of the Indian and Pacific Oceans in the next two years.
But he admitted those plans may now be put on hold in favour of a re-match – or even a crossing of the North Atlantic going from New York to Glasgow.
"I am thinking ahead, although I'm not sure what will be next," he said. "We may put on hold the plans for the other crossings as I'm pretty sure the Americans will want to race again.
"This was a record attempt, but it was also the Blue Riband race, and that is a great feeling. I was thinking it would be nice to do a crossing of the North Atlantic, as the feeling of rowing into Glasgow would be really special, but we will need to wait and see."
Ahead of a meeting with Barbados Prime Minister David Thompson, Mr Brown also suggested he might set up a regular event in the Caribbean.
Whatever comes next for Mr Brown, the crew of La Mondiale have their place in the record books after rowing from Gran Canaria to Barbados in 33 days, seven hours and 30 minutes.
They smashed the previous record, set in the same boat 16 years earlier, by more than two days and broke a number of records, including a world-record distance of 117 miles rowed in a 24-hour period. Around 300 friends, family and supporters, including Mr Brown's wife, Yvette Jelfs, and 14-month-old daughter, Constance, cheered them on as they arrived at Port St Charles on Thursday.
"It felt great to get back to land, and to see the response from everyone in Barbados, and back home, has been very humbling indeed," Mr Brown said.
"I was relieved to get off the boat, because it's pretty small, but obviously there's a touch of sadness as well in leaving an environment you've become quite attached to. I missed my wife and daughter more than anything, and it was incredible to see them there to welcome me when I got off the boat. I was quite surprised at how much Constance had grown."
Among the crew were fellow Edinburgh rowers Reinhardt Von Hof, a construction management student from the New Town, and management consultant Rob Loder-Symonds, 36, of Hillside.
Mr Loder-Symonds said: "To have taken the record is amazing, but I might sit out the next time. I am really pleased to have done this, but I'm not looking ahead."
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