THE Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge race is the world’s toughest row, and four Yorkshire lads are taking on the challenge to row 300 miles across the Atlantic, non-stop, from La Gomera in the Canaries to Antigua in the Caribbean.

More people have been into space, or climbed Everest than have rowed the Atlantic, but these determined young men are in it to win and to raise money for their two charities, The Royal British Legion and Soldier On, at the same time commemorating the end of the First World War.

On December 12th they will set off in their boat, Victory, which is a carbon fibre ocean rowing boat, 8.5 meters long and 1.5 metres wide. There are two cabins at either side of the boat to sleep in, and they have two hours on and two hours off, rowing as fast as possible, 24 hours a day. In that 2 hours they must eat, sleep, wash, check navigation and attend to their responsibilities as members of the team.

Skipper, Will Quarmby, 35, father of three, is the only civilian in the team. He is a self-employed Landscape Designer, and is responsible for getting the team together. Father of two, Chief Technician, Fraser Mowlem, 41, is a Royal Air Force Avionics Technician and is in charge of equipment and nutrition. “We need to consume 6,000 calories per day, but even then we will lose 30% of our bodyweight on the expedition,” he said.” We all need to put on weight starting the month before. We have highly nutritious foil packs of food which we must eat four times a day, and snack packs. We also have a water maker on board.”

Father of two, Glyn Sadler, 37, is a former Royal Marines Commander who spent nine years as a radio operator, and has combat medical experience, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He is in charge of VHF Communication and medical. The youngest member of the team, Duncan Roy, 28, is ex-army Royal Engineers who was invalided out of the army and is starting a new job as Director of the new spa at the refurbished Grantley Hall. He is the most experienced member of the team, having had 65 days of ocean rowing experience in crossing the Atlantic last year, and winning two Guinness world records. “Not many of the competing teams will have had my experience,” he said. “I am comfortable with bad conditions and adverse weather, after my last crossing.”

The young men are now fully funded by many Yorkshire businesses and companies, and they have to thank Gary Verity from Welcome to Yorkshire who has helped them network and introduced them to sponsors. They were in their boat on his stand at the Great Yorkshire Show this year. A black tie event at the Old Swan in Harrogate celebrated how far they have come, as 40% of teams fail to raise the money needed.

“We wanted to celebrate the fact we have done it and also to thank all our sponsors,” said Duncan.

To follow their expedition, search @Row4Victory on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin.