Having set off in June from Florida, brothers Ralph and Robert Brown made their way across the Atlantic in a 21-foot long Dreamboats Intruder flats boat – a small open fishing boat with no cabin or keel which can operate in two inches of water.

In what they have called the "I Am Second" voyage, the duo are on their way to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Centre, near Frankfurt in Germany, and are making the journey to raise money for "wounded heroes" in the USA, as well as in the UK and Canada.

As part of their trip, Ralph and Robert stopped off at Wick harbour for a few hours on Sunday to go to church. They also enjoyed a fish supper from a local shop, eating it overlooking the new marina.

The pair got the chance to chat to some locals, including George Campbell who had been following their online blog. They also met up with Willie Watt, chairman of the Wick Harbour Authority, Gordon Doull, the vice-chairman, and Malcolm Bremner, harbour master. Mr Doull said yesterday that Ralph and Robert were "certainly brave guys doing what they are in that small boat".

The Americans were given a small donation by the harbour authority for their cause, which Mr Doull said was "obviously very close to their hearts".

Intrepid sailors Ralph and Robert Brown with Wick Harbour Authority chairman Willie Watt (left) and harbour master Malcolm Bremner (second from left).

The voyage began as a pledge that Ralph, a former US marine, made to honour victims of the 1980 Eagle Claw mission – the rescue of US Embassy hostages in Iran.

Ralph was on the original roster to go when a different unit was called up. The Dreamboats Intruder is the first flats boat, and the smallest power boat, to cross the Atlantic Ocean.

The duo left Wick for Aberdeen at around noon on Sunday and are planning to be in London tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

For more information on the trip visit www.crosstheatlantic.com.

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