LYME’S Atlantic rowers are ‘raring to go’ as this week they set off for the start of the world’s toughest rowing race.

The Corinthians – Brian Fletcher, Chris Walters, Tony Short, and Elliot Dale – are racing 2,550 nautical miles in the Talisker (formerly Woodvale) Challenge 2011.

Retired Tony left on Sunday for La Gomera in the Canary Islands where the race will start, while the rest of team will be following him out this Sunday.

Their state-of-the-art rowing boat Spirit of Corinth, which was officially launched at Lyme Regis harbour earlier this month, was transported last week by ferry via Spain and Gibraltar.

It has been transported on a trailer by Lyme Regis businessman Jamie McNeil, who is also the team’s boatswain, taking care of the equipment and supplies on the boat.

Jamie has transported several boats for the race, and the Corinthians were confident their boat was in good hands.

Captain Brian Fletcher said: “He is now familiar with what goes on in the Canaries for when we get there, he has been able to report back and book us accommodation.

“He’s been fantastic, he’s done us proud.”

The team will spend a week in the Canaries undergoing briefings and final checks before leaving on December 4 and heading for Barbados.

They hope to complete the race in between 50 and 55 days and expect to be halfway through on Christmas Day.

Their families will not be travelling to the start line with them because they will be so busy preparing.

Mr Fletcher said: “Once we get there, then the real work on the boat starts.

“Before the boat left us, we spent the week packing it with half a tonne of food, enough for 90 days for four people.

“On top of that is all the equipment and our personal gear.

“There are some workshops we need to attend when we get there to make sure everybody has got everything they need and all the skills they need to attempt it.

“We will be unpacking and re-packing the boat so that we know where everything is and we will be scrutinised very closely that week.

“We will be rowing it, capsizing it and making sure everything works.

“It’s a full-on week so we won’t have time for family.”

You would expect the nerves to have kicked in by now, but the captain said they are as ready as they will ever be.

“We are still in a heightened state of excitement,” he said. “We just want to get going.

“I think the feeling is still very confident that we are going to be able to get across and we’re raring to go.”

View the team’s progress at www.spiritofcorinth.co.uk or www.woodvale-challenge.co.uk