TWO businessmen will attempt to break a century old record as they try to row across the Atlantic in less than two months.

Elliott Dale, 54, from Lyme Regis, and Chris Walters, 55, from Taunton, will take on the challenge in June 2014 to raise money for the South West Children’s Hospice.

This will not be the first time the pair have braved the long crossing, having rowed across as part of a four-strong Corinthians team competing in the world’s toughest rowing race, the 2,550-mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge 2011 from the Canary Islands to Barbados – something that’s given them great confidence for this record bid.

Mr Dale said: “When we finished last time, we said we would never do anything like it again, but a couple of months after when we were in the pub we mentioned we’d like to do it again and it’s kick-started from there.”

They will be setting off from New York and will arrive at the Isle of Scilly, rowing more than 5,000 kilometres – 2,700 nautical miles – in turbulent seas and are aiming to do it in less than 55 days. That means they will have to row nearly 100km a day on a route that hasn’t been completed since the 1960s and will not get more than two hours sleep at a time but it hasn’t fazed the pair, who are currently training hard.

Mr Dale added: “I haven’t really sat down and thought about it to get nervous. We row four times a week with the gig club and go to the gym when we can’t row, but it’s more about stamina than muscle, and having the right mentality. The hardest part will be getting to the start line, after that it will be okay. It is strange how quickly the body can adapt to little sleep so I think we will be fine.”

The pair will be rowing in a 25 foot Atlantic Class rowing boat and will be naming and blessing the boat at 10.30am on Sunday, September 22 at the Marine Parade.

Elliot and Chris decided to raise money for the South West Children’s Hospice after seeing first hand the work they do and are hoping to raise £500,000 for the charity.

Mr Dale said: “When we went to one of the centres and saw the work they do and how awful some kids’ lives are we felt we just had to do something to help them.”