A FATHER-OF-TWO is planning to row across nearly 3,000 miles of the Atlantic ocean as part of a novice two-man racing team.

Peter Williams, 41, of St Nicholas Court, South Ham, Basingstoke, will travel from La Gomera, in the Canary Islands, to Antigua, in the West Indies, in the Atlantic Rowing Race 2005, which begins next month.

Mr Williams is taking part in the 2,900-mile race alongside work colleague Rob Eustace from Windsor. The pair have been preparing for two years and will have two weeks of intensive training in the Canary Islands before they begin the race on November 27.

As well as fulfilling a long-held ambition, Mr Williams and Mr Eustace - who are directors of a courier company at Heathrow - plan to raise thousands of pounds for charity.

They have chosen St Michael's Hospice in Basingstoke, Naomi House, the children's hospice in Sutton Scotney, and the Spelthorne Farm Project, a farm in Middlesex that helps people with special needs.

Mr Williams, who is being backed in his venture by wife Alison and teenage children Sin and Ben, said: "I am getting excited about the trip. We started thinking and talking about it two years ago, when the last race was taking place. Then we bought the boat and we started training about a year ago.

"We hope to complete the trip in about 60 days, if all goes well. The record is 40 so, for a pair of complete amateurs, 60 days would be a good time.

"Most of my training has been based on a rowing machine, sitting in front of the TV for hours on end. But we will not be rowing constantly, as we intend to take it in turns, working in two-hour shifts.

"I have not done as much work on the water as I would have liked but we will have two weeks in the Canary Islands to train in the boat before the race begins."

To sponsor Mr Williams, log on to www.rowatlantic.com and click on the charity link. Choose which of the three causes you would like to donate to and make your pledge through the Just Giving website, which is linked to the page.