TWO Hampshire rowers have today embarked on a 3,000-mile voyage across the Atlantic that aims to raise £100,000 for charity.

Half-brothers Greg Bailey, 27, and Jude Massey, 18, left the harbour in Gran Canaria at 6.00am at the start of their marathon journey.

They were due to set off on Monday but bad weather forced them to delay their departure.

The Lymington based duo, who call themselves the Ocean Brothers, say the voyage could take as long as 11 weeks.

They are making the trip in memory of Peter Massey - Jude's father and Greg's stepfather - who died in 2015 after battling skin cancer for 16 years.

All the money they raise will go to the British Skin Foundation, which is funding research into the disease.

Jude said: “This challenge means so much to us. If we can stop another family from suffering like ours has, then it’ll all be worth it. We want to make dad proud.”

Greg, a junior doctor, added: “It’s not just about the money for skin cancer research, but also raising the awareness of checking and protecting the skin from a young age.

"We have copious amounts of sunscreen and UV protective clothing for our voyage.”

The two rowers have equipped their 20ft boat with a watertight cabin, a life-raft and other safety features. Personal locator beacons will automatically alert coastguards if they capsize.

A water-maker will provide them with drinking water as well as enabling them to rehydrate freeze-dried meals as they take turns to row.

The two men, both regarded as novice rowers despite a year of intensive training, will not be accompanied by a safety boat.

An expedition spokesman said: "Greg and Jude are taking on the row completely unsupported.

Their training has prepared them for all eventualities including bad weather, capsize, large sea-life and technical failure.

"If successful, Jude will be the youngest man to row any ocean in the world and will become a Guinness World Record holder. They also hope to be the first vegans to complete the crossing.