UK oar bust

The youngest four-man team to attempt the round-Britain rowing record is underway

A group of friends are to take on the ultimate in rowing challenges – circumnavigating the UK’s treacherous coastline in the shortest time possible.

Nick Bevan, 19, Will Homer, 18, Rob Pickering, 18, and Dave Gough, 19, left from Tower Bridge this weekend, and are the youngest crew to attempt this dangerous voyage.

Taking on the mission to raise money for the Orchid cancer charity, the three rowers will take it in turns at the oars 24 hours a day in an attempt to smash the current record. It currently stands at 26 days, 21 hours and 14 minutes, which was set in 2005.

The crew needs to cover at least 70 miles a day to have a chance of breaking the record, their position tracked by satellite.

“We all went to school together and as a distraction from work we hatched a plan to set ourselves a massive personal challenge. Once we made up our minds, that was it,” Nick Bevan told the press.

Their first day saw good progress, but an increasing headwind saw the team’s progress slowed to just one knot – causing them to anchor at a buoy in Hastings.

Will they make it in time? Find out by following their progress at www.gbrow.com