A PAIR of Bradford adventurers are setting off today on a seven-week-long, 3,000-nautical mile race across the Atlantic.

Chris Nicholl and James Tordoff, friends from Idle who call themselves Hell Oar High Water, were due to start the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge at 10.30am on Thursday.

They are due to be the last pairs boat to set off from the marina on La Gomera in the Canary Islands, setting course for Antigua in the Caribbean on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.

Speaking yesterday, Chris said the duo and their support crew were making all the final preparations for the race and were ready to go but the latest weather forecasts indicated rough seas ahead.

He said: "We're all set.

"It's due to be a really windy start.

"We're going to get sling-shotted out and in a few days hit the waves.

"It's going to be a baptism of fire!"

The duo, who had never rowed before they started preparing for the event three years ago, have spent the last few days making sure their boat - named Persistence, or Percy for short - was ready for the challenge which is set to last 13 about weeks.

Chris added: "We've been just tightening up the grab rails and washing the boat down.

"We're going through the strategy with the weather router today."

On their website they say: "Physically, it will be relentless. Two hours rowing then two hours rest whilst the other rows for two hours. Day and night, Non-stop until we reach Antigua. Our bodies will change and become weak but our minds will have to stay strong especially if we want to win our pairs category - which we do!"

They estimate that they will burn 10,000 calories a day, consume 6,000 calories a day, lose 20 per cent of their body weight and row 1.5 million strokes in all.

Chris said the atmosphere at the marina was fantastic with all the teams mixing and enjoying themselves before the race.

"It's one big family, we've been helping each other out."

But the competitive spirit will kick in as the wait to cross the start line in the harbour, five minutes after the previous boat.

The clock starts ticking when they go past the start boat and will only stop when they arrive in Nelson's Dockyard on Antigua.

They will be updating their social media as they go and will be keeping in touch with family and news at home by satellite phone.

One of the events they will miss is today's General Election which they were hoping to vote in but could not arrange it in time.

Chris said: "We didn't get a chance to vote. We really did want to.

"We will be kept informed of the news though."

Not only are Chris, 35, and James, 31, taking on the event as a personal challenge but they are aiming to raise £50,000 each for Centrepoint, the UK’s leading charity for homeless young people, the Bradford Hospital’s Charity (BHC) Neonatal Unit at the Bradford Royal Infirmary and the independent charity, Ben, which provides support for life for automotive people and their family dependents.

Chris, a graphic designer, chose Centrepoint because they do great work in the city and he experienced being homeless when he left home at 17.

James has a nephew and cousins born prematurely which is why he had chosen BRI's neo-natal unit. And as a Vauxhall salesman for JCT, he was also well aware of the work of Ben.

You can donate at https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/giving/ and search for Hell Oar High Water.

In the race they will be up against 35 other teams from around the world which makes this year’s event the biggest ever ranging from solo rowers to teams of six.

The pair are up against six rivals in their pairs category, among them a brother and sister, two Belgian brothers, a pair of female rowers, two other British duos and a Swiss pairing.

The event is described as the world's toughest row with more people having climbed Everest than rowed an ocean. The crews can expect to experience waves which can measure up to 20ft high as well as sleep deprivation, salt sores, and physical extremes inflicted by the race.

The race can be followed at Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge website where there will be a live tracker showing how the boats are getting on each day out on the water.

The Bradford pair's families are out in La Gomera with them - Chris with his partner Becky and daughter and James with his wife Sophie - and leaving them will be a wrench.

"It will be difficult for us," said Chris, "but we'll get our game heads on.

"It's a job we've got to do."