Four men taking part in a rowing race across the Pacific have been rescued after their boat began to take on water 160 kilometres off the Californian coast.

Sam Collins, 24, from Falmouth, Fraser Hart, 33, from Tunbridge Wells, James White, 35, from London, and Colin Parker, 35, from New Zeland were competing in the 2,400-mile Great Pacific Race between Monterey and Honolulu in their boat, the Britannia 4, when they ran into difficulties.

British coastguards received a distress call early on Saturday morning, and immediately began coordinating a rescue attempt with their US counterparts.

A race support yacht attended the scene, where it was later joined by a US Coast Guard helicopter.

Race organisers confirmed that the team have been lifted to safety and all four crew members are well.

Their ocean rowing boat later sank.

Chris Martin, race director of the Great Pacific Race, said: “From our conversations with the members of Team Pacific Rowers over the previous 24 hours we understand that Britannia 4 had been gradually taking on more and more water and that despite the crews attempt to stem the ingress, the water level became insurmountable and an evacuation was deemed necessary.

“Our support yacht was despatched to their location earlier in the day and arrived on scene shortly before dusk.

“However due to dangerous weather conditions they were unable to attempt rescue themselves without risking the lives of the crew.

“The US Coast Guard had been informed of the developing situation and despatched a helicopter to evacuate the crew. The support yacht remained with Britannia 4 for the duration ensuring the safety of the crew and relaying messages from the Coast Guard.

“A Coast Guard helicopter from Sector 11, San Francisco, arrived on the scene and lifted the four crew members to safety.”

Organisers describe the Great Pacific Race as the “biggest, baddest human endurance challenge on the planet,” with the crossing expected totake anywhere between 30 and 90 days to complete.

In a statement released today, the rowers thanked rescuers from the US Coast Guard, who “risked their lives” to rescue them.

“They are among the most professional and humble people we have ever met. They are truly lifesavers.

“We understand the pressures that adventurers like us put on emergency services. We will be forever in their debt.”

The team said they felt adequately prepared for the journey.

“Conditions of entry into the race are strict and extensive and rightly so. We were making good speed on a respectable bearing.

“The boat we thought was watertight was clearly not. Within a day water was seeping through from our watermaker hatch into the main cabin. Although we could keep this at bay by temporarily using the electric bilge, it was not sustainable.

“Slowly the boat gained weight at the stern end and water came on the vessel quicker than we could bail it.

“When the support yacht arrived on Friday our electrics failed, meaning an inability to bilge electrically, leaving us with just a hand pump. From this point what was a slowly worsening situation ballooned into a Mayday scenario.

“Confused seas of up to 20 feet and winds up to 30 knots quickly inundated the boat with water as we all sat on our swamped deck in orange survival suits, in total darkness, awaiting rescue.

“The support yacht circled us, maintaining vocal and VHF communication, to ensure we were safe and only two hours later the team from the US Coast Guard arrived in their specialized rescue helicopter.”

The team said they were “all alive, in good spirits and with no injuries”.

Colin Parker is British and has been living in Auckland since late last year.