NZ rowers facing Atlantic hurricane

New Zealand rowers Tara Remington and Iain Rudkin, already battling chronic sea sickness in the fourth Atlantic Rowing Race, are now having to cope with a passing hurricane.

The last time a hurricane spun through the Atlantic in the month of December was nearly 50 years ago, but Hurricane Epsilon moved into Atlantic Ocean this week.

Team Sun Latte's shore manager and former trans-Atlantic record holder Rob Hamill said the crews could face some big seas from the hurricane's effects.

Initially, it had created lighter than forecast winds, but this was changing and the US national hurricane centre had said Hurricane Epsilon would push big seas towards the boats, before it moved further north.

Hamill said this was probably not welcome news for the New Zealanders.

"At one stage I felt so bad that I wanted to dive into the sea and hope the sharks would take me," said Remington, 35.

"All we do is row, empty the toilet and vomit bucket and collapse into the cabin.

"I hadn't even bothered taking off my gloves for two days, I just crash, close my eyes and hope it goes away."

But the vomiting has not stopped them rowing. Remington said she had become an expert at both disciplines,

"I can row with a bucket between my legs and throw up at the same time," she said. Team Sun Latte are currently the second mixed crew, 31 kilometres behind Britain's Row 4 Life and 14th place overall in the 26-boat fleet. The Atlantic hurricane season goes from June 1 and officially ended a week ago.

- NZPA