CNN: After almost 3,000 miles of rowing, bouts of seasickness, equipment failure and salt sores, Paul Ridley is back on land.

On day 88, Ridley, 25, completed his solo rowing trip across the Atlantic Ocean, becoming the youngest American ever to do so.

"I'm exhausted. Overwhelmed with all the excitement from my arrival," Ridley told CNN.

"Physically feeling good but will be feeling a lot better when the soreness starts to heal and once that happens I will be back to fundraising because cancer research is still in need of funding, so we still have a lot of work to do."

For nearly three months, Ridley has been rowing up to twelve hours a day on the 2,950-mile journey to raise cancer awareness and hopefully raise money for cancer research. His organization "Row for Hope" was inspired by the death of his mother from skin cancer in 2001.

He set out from the Canary Islands off the north African coast in his 19-foot boat on January 1; he landed on the Caribbean island of Antigua at 2:30 p.m. on March 29.

"It was incredible," he said."The whole Island of Antigua came out to greet me. The harbor was swarming with boats. A big crowd on dry land. It's really been an amazing reception."

Only 85 people have attempted the nearly 3,000 miles east-to-west crossing, according to the Ocean Rowing Society International, but most failed.

"I'm definitely suffering from exposure to the elements and I've lost 20 pounds. This is definitely different from my life at home." Ridley told CNN this week before hitting land.

Ridley is the youngest -- and only third American -- to complete the voyage by rowing.

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