He explained the rather bizarre fact that both he and James will be naked for the crossing!

That's because if they had clothes on, they would become soaked in sea water and begin irritating their skin. Luckily, the weather will be warm enough for them not to be clothed.

Ben Fogle on Breakfast

You'll be able to keep up with Ben and James's progress from the race website.

Ben and James set off across the Atlantic from the Canary islands on 27 November - they'll row non-stop aiming for the West Indies - more than 2,500 nautical miles away.

Ben in training with James Cracknell

Race Record

Their epic voyage will be filmed for a BBC documentary, and we are making plans to follow their progress here on the Breakfast website as the unlikely pairing hope to break the 40 day record.

Previous competitors have been known to take four months to make the crossing.

Ben starred in the BBC reality programme Castaway 2000 is no stranger to water having served in the Royal Naval Reserve.

As well as spending a year learning to be self sufficient on an island for Castaway; Ben has also taken part in a celebrity boxing match against former EastEnder's star Sid Owen - Ben won.

He has also completed the 150 mile sand marathon in the intense heat of the Sahara, but Ben and James will complete their Atlantic naked - apparently to prevent abrasions from the salt water.