Rowers located by coastguard plane

A New Zealand team of rowers competing in a charity race across the Indian Ocean has been located after failing to make contact since the weekend.

The Rowing for Prostate crew of Tom Wigram, Peter Staples, Billy Gammon and Matt Hampel was sighted from the air early today (NZ time) about 300 nautical miles from the finish line at Mauritius.

An update on the team's website said a local coastguard patrol plane made contact with the team about 1am (5pm Thursday Mauritius time).

The coastguard reported back to race organisers that the four rowers, all expatriate Britons living in New Zealand, were safe and sounded well.

"We all breathed a huge sigh of relief...and can now relax that our boys are well on their way to their incredibly well-deserved welcome," the website message said.

Mr Wigram's wife, Rebecca, is due to fly out today ahead of the crew's arrival at the finish line late next week.

She had remained confident throughout that the lack of contact from the RFP boat since Saturday was simply because of a problem with recharging the on-board satellite phone.

The inaugural 3132-nautical-mile Indian Ocean Rowing Race began from Geraldton, in Western Australia, in mid-April, with 11 entries, some of them solo rowers, taking part.

The first home was a British crew of four, who crossed the finish line eight days ago after 68 days, 19 hours and 40 minutes.

- NZPA