The Astro to Atlantic team are counting down their last hours before finally embarking on their relentless row across the Atlantic Ocean.

Chloe Harvey, 27, Emily Read, 20, Helen Symons, 32, and Louise Read, 49, are currently in San Sebastian de La Gomera, awaiting their start time on Wednesday, December 12.

The team are taking part in the Talisker Atlantic Challenge, known as the ’World’s Toughest Row’, a 3,000 mile race from San Sebastian, Canary Islands, to Nelson’s Dockyard English Harbour, Antigua.

Once teams row themselves out of the safety of the harbour they are on their own, unsupported and at the mercy of the ocean and the elements.

The challenge is relentless, rowing two hours on, two hours off, 24 hours a day, non-stop, until they reach Antigua. As a team of four this could take up to 60 days, but the Astro to Atlantic team are aiming to break the world record for an all-female crew: 34 days.

During the trip rowers face a constant battle of sleep deprivation, blisters, salt sores and physical exhaustion; it is the ultimate challenge of endurance, testing rowers to their limits, both physically and mentally.

They’re doing it all for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust, and you can donate on the website: www.astro-to-atlantic.co.uk

You can track their progress after they set off, on the website: www.taliskerwhiskyatlanticchallenge.com/2018racetracker/

Good luck Astro to Atlantic!!