Irish Atlantic rowers send distress signal

THE US coastguard was last night coordinating attempts to reach the two Irishmen competing in an Atlantic rowing race who were reported to have sent out distress signals.

The Mayday signals, from a location southeast of Bermuda, were picked up by the US Coastguard at Norfolk in Virginia, which then launched a rescue operation.

The boat, Digicel Atlantic Challenge, is crewed Gearoid Towey and Ciarán Lewis, the second fully Irish team to contest the event.