A TEAM of four friends from North Yorkshire have begun a 3,000 mile trip in a rowing boat across the Atlantic ocean.

The men from the county are taking part in the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge which started in La Gomera in the Canary Islands on Wednesday.

 

Friends Duncan Roy an ex-royal engineer, Fraser Mowlem a serving RAF chief technician, Glyn Sadler an ex-royal marine and civilian Will Quarmby, have come together for the trip which could take anywhere between 35 and 70 days to complete.

Under the name of Row4Victory, they are joining 27 other teams from a dozen countries which will endure icy water conditions and challenging currents as they compete to arrive first at the finish line - an English harbour in Antigua.

Before they set off, Will Quarmby of Ripon said: “We’re feeling incredibly excited as today’s the day we’ve been building up to for the last two years. Although we’re nervous about the unexpected, we are definitely in it to win it and have been from the start. Team Row4Victory are determined to give it our all and to do everything we can to achieve our dream goal.”

 

The lengthy trip across the Atlantic will throw minus-degree temperatures at teams whilst they have been made aware that they will need to battle sleep deprivation and symptoms of chronic fatigue.

They will also have little reprieve from their former military-dinners as they swap their Christmas dinner’s with a military-esque ration of boil-in-the-bag meals.

The friends have also devised a plan to row in pairs for two-hour shifts at a time, taking turns around the clock in an attempt to bring success to Yorkshire.

Sir Gary Verity chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire said: “This courageous Yorkshire team have now set off on the biggest challenge of their lives and I know how focussed they are on winning this awesome race. I’m sure the people of Yorkshire will be supporting and monitoring their progress every step of the way, wishing them all of the very best. I know they’ll do us proud.”

 

Before they left the UK for the challenge, a special send-off was arranged at Leeds Bradford Airport before their flight.

Phil Forster of the airport said: “We’re all delighted to have given the team a good send-off for their flight to the canaries ahead of the race.

“We’ll be monitoring their progress and look forward to planning a winner’s welcome for their return to Yorkshire in few months.”

The friends who represent all areas of the military are also raising awareness and funds for The Royal British Legion and Soldier On during the race.