Simon Chalk, a property developer from Newton Abbot, decided to continue his adventure alone after the man he was due to row with pulled out.

His journey will take him from Kalbari to Reunion Island, off the coast of Madagascar.

The Indian Ocean has been rowed solo once before - in 1971.

New boat

Mr Chalk decided to make the 3,000-mile journey on his own after he and Welshman Robert Munslow decided not to proceed with their joint attempt last week.

His previous joint attempt last May ended in disaster when he and his partner, Bill Greaves, also from Newton Abbot, capsized and had to cling to their vessel for 15 hours in high seas before they were rescued.

His new boat has now been designed to right itself.

Mr Chalk has enough food to last 100 days but is aiming to complete the trip in 64.

First Briton

If he is successful he will be the youngest rower and the first Briton to achieve the feat.

Mr Chalk is due to start his challenge at 2330 GMT on Thursday.

Simon Chalk said of his impending voyage: "There are two ways off this boat.