TWO Army doctors are hoping to set a new world record for rowing around Great Britain.

Captains Hamish Reid and Nick Dennison of the Royal Army Medical Corps aim to become the first pair to row non-stop and unsupported around the British mainland.

They are taking on the challenge in their 24-foot ocean rowing boat ‘Komale’ and will battle high seas, fierce winds and strong tides on a journey of more than 2,100 miles in about 45 days.

The pair set off from Lymington Yacht Haven, in Hampshire, on May 12. They will row for up to 20 hours a day, alternating every two hours. During the challenge the pair will need about 8,000 calories a day to maintain good physical condition.

Speaking before he left, Capt Reid, 28, originally from Sibford Gower, where his family still live, said the pair were at the peak of fitness. The Regimental Medical Officer of 22 Royal Engineer Regiment, in Tidworth, said: “The row demands prolonged physical endurance and in order to complete it we had to achieve an elite level of fitness prior to departure. We had to condition our bodies to deal with fatigue, discomfort and prolonged exertion.

“Courage, discipline and integrity are fundamental to the success of this challenge. The race will put us in situations we have not experienced before and we shall need to dig deep into our mental reserves to maintain our efforts, uphold these standards and, in the worst case, survive.”

Capt Reid, who is hoping to train in sport and rehabilitation medicine, followed his father, Dr Nigel Reid, who until last month worked at the Banbury Medical Surgery, into a medical career.

Colleague Capt Dennison, based in Dorset, came up with the idea for the record attempt and the pair bought the boat last December.

He said: “We aim to set a competitive world record and in order to do this our route and navigation through the inshore waters and tides must be excellent and to this end we have undertaken both Yachtmaster and sea-survival courses.”

They hope to raise £20,000 which will be split between the Army Benevolent Fund and Help For Heroes. Previously Capt Reid attempted to break the world’s longest continuous crawling record and swam the English Channel in 2008 in aid of Katharine House Hospice, Adderbury.

To sponsor the men view rowforheroes.com