WATCH: West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Pulis reaches France in London to Paris charity row
West Bromwich Albion boss Tony Pulis has reached the French coast on the latest stage of a charity rowing challenge - as the group smashing their previous fundraising target.
Pulis is part of a team of 24 including comics Hugh Dennis and Nick Hancock, taking part in the six-day challenge rowing from Tower Bridge, in London, to the Eiffel Tower, in Paris.
The 450-mile Tower to Tower challenge is raising money for the Donna Louise Hospice, which Pulis has supported since his time as Stoke City manager.
Overnight, fundraisers have beaten their target of raising £200,000 for the charity and now hope to push the total towards £250,000.
Over the last 24 hours the teams, rowing two hours stints each, in two separate boats, battled through the choppy waters of the English Channel.
Messages from the rowers were few and far between as while they were out of contact with little mobile signal.
Conditions had settled after the stomach-churning choppiness of the journey around the South Coast leaving England.
However, stronger winds were on their way and so the team aimed to beat the storm and make the safe haven of Le Havre and the mouth of the Seine estuary.
Officials said the group arrived in port at around 1am this morning and sheltered while the strong winds passed.
Land Support crossed from Folkestone to Calais on the Eurotunnel and made their way down to Le Havre where they awaited the arrival of the boats today.
The group were set to rest and recuperate ready to face the 200 mile row up The Seine to Paris, leaving Le Havre tomorrow morning at 1am to reach Amfreville at 11pm.
Officials say the first stretch to Amfreville is tough, battling the tidal effects of the river through the French countryside.
There will be an overnight stop at Amfreville but they will be back on the water for 8am on Saturday arriving at Sureness at 5pm on Sunday.
The plan remains to spent their last night sleeping in cramped quarters on the boat or in tents on the river bank,ready to depart for the home stretch to Paris at 5am.
Pulis was joined on his boat by the tow comics as well as former Stoke City midfielder Rory Delap and his wife Helen.
On setting off Pulis said everyone was giving each other support to help them through the tough challenge.
For details and to donate visit www.towertotower.co.uk
