AN Alresford rower is counting down the days and making final preparations for his challenge of a lifetime.

Alasdair McGregor, 26, only took up the sport this time last year but is determined to smash the record in this year's Atlantic Rowing Challenge.

He will hit the high seas from Tenerife on October 19 in an attempt to break the current record of 41 days and raise £50,000 for the Hayling Island-based Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation. Alasdair, of Soame's Lane, Ropley, is competing with his London team-mate Andrew Vinsen, 24, to race 2,900 miles across the Atlantic Ocean to Barbados.

Both men have given up work to dedicate themselves to this ultimate challenge and are the youngest crew competing in the race.

Speaking from Tenerife, Alasdair told the Daily Echo: "It's taken us so long and so much effort to get to the start line that there is a definite sense of satisfaction. We are feeling quietly confident and have worked out a plan that if we keep up a speed of 2.75 knots, we will do it in 40 days.

"We are starting to cut down our training now to two hours a day. As the race gets closer we are eating more and sleeping more to recharge for the start."

Andrew and Alasdair have been eating as much as possible in order to gain weight to help them survive their long stretch at sea and to supplement the diet of freeze-dried meals they will have on board.

They have also got their hands on a harpoon to catch some of the many fish, which tend to accompany boats in the ocean.

Crews competing in the Atlantic Challenge, founded by Sir Chay Blyth, often have to face many dangers including shark encounters, 60ft waves and the ordeal of spending such a long time in a confined environment. The challenge was made famous last year when Debra Veal was left to complete the race alone after her husband, Andrew, had to be rescued from the boat in which they were travelling, leaving her to complete the race in 111 days.