MALVERN businessman Carl Theakston is braving rough seas and strong winds on a 2,800 mile odyssey across the Atlantic Ocean.

Mr Theakston, chairman of paper company ESP, will spend Christmas and New Year eating freeze-dried rations in a cramped boat as part of a four-man crew taking part in the 2007 Woodvale Atlantic Rowing Race.

Having set off from La Gomera in the Canary Islands last Sunday (December 2) Mr Theakston has now been at sea for the best part of a week. Writing in the crew's online blog, he described how a "gritty" first couple of days battling the waves and wind had gradually given way to perfect rowing conditions.

"All of us initially suffered from varying degrees of sea sickness. This, coupled with a lack of sleep, diminished appetites and physical exhaustion made for a pretty tough first 24 hours," he said. "However by the end of the second day appetites were beginning to return and morale began to climb.

"We've already amassed a fairly spectacular collection of blisters and sores, some in the most unlikely of places, but other than that morale is high and we're making good progress."

Team Purida Vida, which comprises Mr Theakston and friends Tom Harvey, Robbie Grant and John Cecil-Wright, are taking part in the race to support homeless charities Crisis, Raleigh International and the Big Issue Foundation.

Although none of the crew had ever rowed before an intensive 18-month training regime they hope to keep a good pace and complete their journey to English Harbour, Antigua, in a total of 40-45 days.