DORSET'S Bear Grylls and his team of adventurers are now in Reykjavik, waiting for storms to abate so they can begin the final leg of their Atlantic crossing.

Bear is hoping to skipper the first open-topped rigid inflatable to cross the Atlantic unassisted via the Arctic Circle.

The team, who left Nova Scotia on July 31, hope to land at John O'Groats by the end of August.

Here is the latest excerpt from Bear's diary:

August 10, 10.34pm (GMT): "The team and I have been in Reykjavik for 48 hours. The physical and emotional battering we all took in the last leg is still very much with us.

"Owing to the high in the UK there is an increased low here in Iceland which is bringing strong winds and rain that we hope will move off soon. The 2,000 miles so far have shown us that the sea can get very nasty for a small boat even if the force of the winds is not astronomical. No one is interested in any more close calls or heroics - and we are all aware we have been let off the hook a few times coming through such difficult conditions. Getting this final forecast right is crucial.

"We are so very aware of our need to try and relax and recharge from the journey so far but to be honest we are a little tense in wanting to get this final homeward leg done safely.

"Missing my gorgeous wife Shara like crazy."