Hats off and full steam ahead for brave quartet

It never ceases to amaze the lengths some people will go to help others – whether it be a cake sale, running a marathon or for four submariners rowing across the Atlantic. Known as the ‘world’s toughest row’ Hugo Mitchell-Heggs, Callum Fraser, Dylan Woods and Matt Harvey have set off from the Canary Islands on a charity journey that is expected to take anywhere between 20 and 40 days.

And all they will have to propel them to the Caribbean island of Antigua is the power of their arms.

They are predicted to complete more than one-and-a-half million strokes and are expecting to tackle 20ft waves on their journey.

As if all that wasn’t enough, the crew members will be rowing for two hours, then sleeping for two hours, 24 hours a day.

The amount of training that the quartet must have put in to get their bodies into some sort of shape for the epic challenge doesn’t bear thinking about.

But then dedication is the name of the game and being submariners that is something they have in abundance.

Their £65,000 custom-built ‘unsinkable’ boat HMS Oardacious will seem cramped for such a long journey.

But the quartet don’t seem that daunted by the challenge that lies ahead.

Matt said: ‘Our culture as submariners seems like the perfect preparation for the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge, whether it is knowing everything to know about our boat, looking out for our teammates, managing watch systems, all while contending with sleep deprivation and dealing with the emotions of leaving our loved ones.’

While most people are looking forward to spending time with family and friends in the comfort of their own homes this Christmas, spare a thought for these four daredevils who are aiming to raise £130,000 for the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.