Cancer survivor Thomas Cremona, 22, and his team of five other rowers hoped to start their attempt to break the Atlantic crossing record on Sunday but their departure had to be put off because of bad weather.

A row from Agadir to Tarfaya in Morocco over the past two days took longer than expected and they are now anxiously studying weather forecasts to decide when to cast off on their difficult leg to Barbados, 5,000 kilometres away.

They are hoping to get there in a shorter time than the mid-Atlantic rowing speed record of 33 days, seven hours and 30 minutes – which means they must try to leave in optimum weather conditions to increase their chances.

Mr Cremona, who survived acute lymphoblastic leukaemia when aged four, is taking part in the row to raise funds for Puttinu Cares Foundation, the organisation that helps young cancer patients and their families while undergoing hospital treatment in the UK.

Mr Cremona is no newcomer to such challenges, having taken part in Life Cycle and the Malta marathon and also swam from Gozo to Malta.

The team will be rowing the 11-metre-long boat Sara G, which displaces 1,750 kilos fully loaded. The team has divided itself into two, with three at the oars at any one time.