Ben Fogle

In November 2005, Ben Fogle and double gold winning Olympic medallist James Cracknell set off in a 21 foot rowing boat in the Atlantic Rowing Race. Beginning in La Gomera in the Canaries, the pair rowed 2,950 miles across the Atlantic ocean to the finish line in Antigua. The pair battled dehydration, sleep deprivation, hurricane’s, storm’s and even a life threatening capsize in their attempt to reach the finish line.

(view his progress at www.2meninaboat.com)

He will set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to row - non stop - the 2,535 nautical mile across the Atlantic to the West Indies.

Despite having no rowing experience (he admits that the last time he rowed was at school - when he was ‘rubbish’) Ben, together with his team-mate (yet to be announced) will brave 50ft waves, hurricanes and even sharks in a bid to beat the record - which currently stands at 40 days, although past competitors have been known to take up to 4 months…

The Atlantic Rowing Race, which this year sets off on 27th November, was initiated by Chay Blyth in 1966 and takes place every four years. Competitors come from all over the world to take part.

Ben’s most recent adventure, which he filmed for the BBC, was to complete, with only six weeks training, the notorious ‘Sand Marathon’ -150 miles across the Sahara desert in 150 degrees heat, making it the toughest footrace in the world.

He is currently presenting Cash In The Attic and Country File for BBC 1 TV. Animal Park will shortly be transmitting on BBC 1 TV.