A Bradford banker is today relaxing in the Caribbean after riding on the crest of 30ft waves on a record-breaking row across the Atlantic.

Katie Pattinson-Hart is enjoying a few home comforts after braving massive waves and surviving on dehydrated food and desalinated water for 45 days.

The 32-year-old – who, along with four other women, smashed the record for an all-woman team crossing the world’s second largest ocean – told of huge waves that took their boat high into the air as they rowed the 2,613 miles from the Canary Islands to Barbados.

Speaking from a villa on the Caribbean island where she is unwinding, she said: “It’s like a white knuckle ride that you cannot get off. You go up so high you’re looking down on the ocean, then you come crashing down.”

She said at the beginning the team ran into bad weather.

“It was miserable, dark and raining, and the nights felt really long. We were wearing so much gear – when you went to the toilet you had to take off so many layers, then sit on a bucket, freezing and getting pelted by rain.”

The exhausted crew – Katie, Julia Immonen, Debbie Beadle, Kate Richardson and Helen Leigh – sailed into Port St Charles in Barbados at around 5am UK time on Sunday, also becoming the first five-woman team to row across any ocean.

“The reception was overwhelming,” said Katie. “A yacht with our families on board sailed out to meet us.”

When they pulled into the marina, the women stood on wobbly legs, having not been able to stand on the small boat for the entire journey.

Katie’s sister Abigail, 29, and Caroline, 26, who live in the Bradford district, are thrilled their sister completed the challenge safely.

“We’d seen footage of people crossing the Atlantic and we knew what they were letting themselves in for.”

Abigail, a partner in The Coffee Lounge cafe in Bingley, added: “They are exhausted, but running on adrenaline. They went to a pool party yesterday, so they are all enjoying themselves.”

On the trip, Katie, who grew up in Baildon and attended Beckfoot School in Bingley, spoke on a blog of missing Christmas dinner.

“We spoke to her on Christmas Day,” said Abigail. “She told us that there were some very big waves and some scary moments. It was a very emotional phone call – they were all laughing and having a joke which put our minds at rest. They set off hoping to make the crossing, never mind breaking any records – that is a bonus.”

Katie’s parents Joyce and Chris, travelled from their home in Portugal to meet their daughter, a former director of a United Arab Emirates-based finance house.

The team were taking part in Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge to raise money for charities that work to prevent human trafficking. They were rowing for the charity Row for Freedom, whose spokesman Danielle Spriggs said: “It was incredible. It wasn’t until the flares went off on the shore that they saw how many people had gathered to meet them.”