A FATHER and two sons have set their sights on becoming the first family trio to row the Atlantic Ocean.

James Trafford, 59, from Salisbury and his two sons, Hugo, 22, and Joe, 18, are beginning the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge to raise £500,000 for St Christopher’s Hospice on December 12.

The 3000-mile row from the Canary Islands to Antigua in the Caribbean will take the team 45 to 65 days to complete, depending on the weather and conditions at sea.

Geography graduate Hugo Trafford is “looking forward” to the challenge, adding: “We feel prepared, but there could be 40 foot waves, sharks, hurricanes, and if anything goes wrong the nearest boat may be two days away.

“The three of us are keen sportsmen but what we’ve done in the past just isn’t comparable to this - we’ve been training all summer and we hope that’s enough.”

Dad James will be one of the oldest participants attempting the endeavour, alongside Joe who will be one of the youngest, only just completing his A-Level studies.

In preparation the Trafford team have been regularly going to the gym and have also spent nights on the boat named after their chosen charity, St Christopher’s.

Based in London, St. Christopher’s Hospice aims to provide care and support to those with life-limiting conditions and the people close to them.

The charity are reliant on donations in order for their services and facilities to continue.

Hugo said: “We feel very strongly about the charity and the money will help train their staff around the world.”

Katie Memory, managing director of Memory Opticians, the Salisbury business who will be supplying The Transatlantic Traffords with sunglasses, said: “When we learnt of the Transatlantic Traffords’ incredible voyage we, as a practice, were keen to get on board and show our support. During their expedition the Trafford family will be exposing themselves to extensive amounts of natural sunlight and water reflection, which can of course cause irreversible damage to our eyes.

"Our entire team here at Memory will be following the family’s journey closely and wishing them every success.”

The trio will be rowing over both Christmas and New Year’s Day, and will be greeted by mum and younger siblings at the finish line.