Mr Mee will text message emergency teams daily

Dom Mee, 32, will follow the route of Victorian explorer Sir John Ross during his solo journey through the Northwest Passage.

Mr Mee, of West Buckland, will use the 40-day adventure to prepare for a bid to circumnavigate the world non-stop via its two polar regions next year.

The Northwest Passage is notorious for its icebergs and polar bears, but the former marine commando insists he is not reckless to attempt the journey in the 17 foot rubber vessel.

'The Quest'

"It's what you would call the Mercedes-Benz of kayaks," he said.

"It's quite tough, it's not like a little dinghy, it's really hard wearing and thick.

"The reason I have chosen it is because of portability and it has got very good capacity, so I can get all the food and supplies into it."

The boat weighs 60kg and folds into three bags.

Mr Mee will be carrying all the provisions for the journey with him and the only contact he will have with emergency teams will be via a daily text message.

The explorer's voyage begins from the small Inuit settlement of Gjona Haven on King William Island on 20 August, and he expects to cover 600 nautical miles during the journey.

During the trip, Mr Mee will be testing equipment for "The Quest" - a solo bid to circumnavigate the world non-stop via its two polar regions in a 28 ft yacht.