Jake chooses town for epic Atlantic race training

An adventurer getting ready to take part in rowing's ultimate endurance race has chosen Hartlepool to prepare for the challenge.

- Mark Payne

Jake Still is due to row around 3,000 miles single-handed across the Atlantic this December in The Atlantic Challenge, also known as the World's Toughest Row. He will be alone at sea for over a month, facing up to waves up to 20ft high, the risk of marlin strikes, sleep deprivation and relentless physical strain.

To prepare for the mammoth solo challenge, 26-year-old Jake, from Yorkshire, has spent over 300 hours training in the North Sea off the Hartlepool coast.

He said: "I haven't done anything like this before and have no real seafaring experience.

"However, I signed up because this sort of challenge is up my street.