TWO Hampshire rowers who completed a gruelling 3,000-mile voyage across the Atlantic are celebrating again today after hitting their £100,000 fundraising target.

Greg Bailey and his half-brother, Jude Massey, made the voyage in aid of the British Skin Foundation, which is funding vital research into skin cancer.

Lymington businessman Peter Massey - Jude's father and Greg's stepfather - died aged 63 in 2015 after battling the disease for 16 years.

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

Greg and Jude made their 53-day trip across the Atlantic in a tiny 20ft boat named after him.

Now, several weeks after completing the voyage and returning to Hampshire in triumph, the Lymington-based duo are celebrating another victory.

In a statement they said: "We have reached our fundraising target of £100k for the British Skin Foundation.

"In addition the charity have decided to name the money we raised as the Peter Massey Skin Cancer Fund.

"We hope the money will provide funding to research projects which will make a difference to those whose lives are affected by skin cancer.

"Thank you to everyone who has worked with us as a team to raise his mammoth amount of money for our cause. We did it, together."

Matthew Patey, chief executive of the British Skin Foundation, added: "We'd like to say a huge 'thank you' to Greg and Jude for all their hard work, both the gruelling row and the relentless fundraising.

"The massive amount of money they have raised will go specifically to skin cancer research to find treatments and cures for the future.

"They've done a fantastic job and we're sure Peter would be very proud."

Known as the Ocean Brothers, the two men rowed from Gran Canaria to Barbados without the aid of an escort boat. They suffered a raft of setbacks including a capsize, multiple equipment failures and painful injuries caused by round-the-clock rowing.

They returned to the UK aboard the P&O cruise ship Britannia.

Earlier this month they attended a Buckingham Palace Garden Party after being invited to the prestigious event by their patron, Princess Alexandra.