TWO HAMPSHIRE sailors planning to row the Atlantic have already taken to the water as the countdown to their epic 3,000-mile voyage begins.

Jude Massey and his half-brother, Dr Greg Bailey, are training in a boat similar to the one they plan to use during their gruelling trip early next year.

Their training regime is being masterminded by international rower Chris Martin, who conquered the Atlantic in 2006 and the Pacific in 2010.

As reported in the Daily Echo, Jude, 17, and Greg, 26, are bidding to raise £100,000 for the British Skin Foundation.

It follows the death of Lymington businessman Peter Massey - Jude’s father and Greg’s stepfather - from skin cancer in 2015 aged 63.

Mr Massey spent a lot of time in the sun in his 20s and developed a scaly red mark on his forehead.

He was diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma at the age of 49 and underwent an operation, but the cancer returned and eventually entered his skull.

As his condition deteriorated Peter lost an eye and became so disfigured he lacked the confidence to leave his house.

Greg – who is a junior doctor – said: “There are no words to describe how awful this disease is both for the sufferer and their family. The more awareness we can raise, the better for everyone.”

Using a tiny 24ft boat being built in Devon, Jude and Greg plan to row non-stop in shifts.

The duo, who call themselves the Ocean Brothers, will take about 11 weeks to complete the crossing. Their journey will be aided by the Canary Current, which flows from West Africa to the Caribbean.

One of their recent training sessions off the Isle of Wight took them past The Needles, one of Britain’s best-known landmarks.

They were accompanied by a support boat provided by lifeboatman Jon Chittock, managing director of Lymington-based Gemini Marine.

Jude said: “Every day we’re out training we get more excited about the thought of setting off from Gran Canaria and heading out into the Atlantic, but it was particularly special to get so close to The Needles.”

The brothers have issued a plea for sponsorship and are seeking support from local organisations. to get behind the challenge.

To donate go online and visit oceanbrothers.co.uk.