Firemen take on Atlantic Rowing Race challenge for Claire House

May 20 2009 By Helen Hunt

Atlantic rowers Neil Gyllenship (foreground) and Dean Jagger

TWO firefighters are taking on a gruelling challenge to cross the Atlantic in a boat - despite having never rowed before in their lives.

Neil Gyllenship, 34, of Wirral, and Dean Jagger, 39, who both work at Manchester Airport, are taking on the world’s toughest rowing race to raise funds for children’s hospice Claire House.

Neil said they were inspired to take part after watching a film of TV stars Ben Fogle and James Cracknell complete the same challenge.

Like the celebrity pair, they too will be doing the 3,000-mile crossing completely naked.

Salty sea water can cause extreme chaffing, so Neil and Dean will complete the epic trek in the nude, protecting themselves with lashings of barrier cream.

Neil, who lives with his family in Parkgate, said: "We’re doing it naked because salt water chafes really badly so we will plaster on Sudocream, but nobody’s watching."

The pair will leave Tenerife and sail 3,000 miles to Antigua.

Fogle and Cracknell completed the crossing in 49 days, setting the British pairs' record.

Neil and Dean, from Yorkshire, despite being rowing novices, are aiming to make the crossing in two months.

Neil said: "We’ve never rowed in our lives. We’ve both got machines at home and do various things like running and weights.