Cornish rowers take on the Atlantic in a charity challenge

A team of rowers from Cornwall are set to take on one of the world’s ‘toughest’ challenges for charity.

James Brittain-Long, Paul Hayes, Luke Morgan and David Radford-Wilson have signed up as the Invictus Challenge team for the World’s Toughest Row, which is set to start on December 12.

The run from the Canary Islands to Antigua sees crews traverse a 3,000 nautical mile (5,556 km) course across the Atlantic Ocean.

The Invictus Challenge team will raise money for the Invictus Trust, a Cornish mental health charity which raises awareness of teenage mental health.

The charity was set up in Truro in January 2011 by the family of Ben Cowburn, who took his own life aged 18 after a period of mental illness.

Mr Brittain-Long, who captains the team, said the quartet wanted to raise money for the charity because of the work they do in Cornwall.

He said the team was looking forward to the challenge, despite the difficulties that might arise during the row.

“We’re four old friends with strong connections to Cornwall and it’s all about raising money to fund the brilliant work of the Invictus Trust, supporting the mental health of young people in Cornwall and connecting them with the help they need,” he said.

“We took delivery of our boat at the start of June and the pub talk has really come to an end as we get down to the hard work of training on land and at sea.”

The boat used by the crew – which is 8.5m (27.9ft) long – has two small sleeping cabins but no toilet, the Invictus Trust said.

The charity added that the team will row in pairs in two-hour stints for around six or seven weeks.

He added waves on the Atlantic can reach 40 feet (12.19 m) and the crew must carry all their food and supplies, including having to make their own drinking water.

The charity said all crew members would be attached to a three-point safety harness when on deck.