The family of a disabled rower who has spent more than 200 days at sea in his solo quest to cross the Pacific yesterday gave him their full backing.

Andrew Halsey, 42, set off from San Diego in July on his journey of about 7,000 miles to Sydney, Australia.

So far he has rowed 6,000 miles but due to horrendous weather conditions is only 2,000 miles from where he started.

And despite the concern of the Ocean Rowing Society, his family are 100 per cent behind his effort.

"Andrew will not give up until he feels it's right to do so - and we do not feel it is our place to tell him what to do," said his mother, Barbara, from her home in Avondale Road, Clacton.

"He is experienced and knows what he is doing. I could not tell him to come home, nor would I, and the rest of the family feel exactly the same."

Andrew - who suffers from epilepsy - was the first disabled rower to cross the Atlantic in his 28ft boat, Brittany Rose, in 1997.

And Mrs Halsey said that this time he had the benefit of equipment to turn sea water into drinking water, which he didn't have on the previous trip.

"I know he is low on food but he is very capable of catching enough fish to supply his needs and we are not so concerned about that."

Mrs Halsey said she was upset at some national press reports that she had begged him to return - and totally denied it.

She said Andrew had been hit by hurricanes and storms - some of the worst weather recorded in the area but despite the battering he had the strength and determination to go on.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.