A TENACIOUS team of submariners are using the waters off Gourock to train for a bold bid to row across the Atlantic.

The courageous quartet - Lieutenants Hugo Mitchell-Heggs and Callum Fraser, Petty Officer Dylan Woods and Leading Electrical Technician Matty Harvey - are among those taking part in the epic Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

They will race more than 3,000 miles from the Canary Islands to Nelson's Dockyard in Antigua in a boat just 28ft long.

The crew, who are supported by BAE Systems, hope to raise money to provide mental health and wellbeing support to fellow servicemen, in collaboration with the Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.

They launched the boat on which they’ll spend the duration of the journey from HMNB Clyde, home of the Royal Navy Submarine Service.

They spent seven days training round the Clyde, with their unusual looking vessel spotted by curious onlookers on shore.

Lieutenant Mitchell-Heggs said: "We began building our confidence in our 'home on the water' and getting to grips with our equipment and routines.

"We rowed 240 miles, mostly fighting tidal currents and strong winds, initially two hours on two hours off.

"We spent the first two nights at anchor but then rowed non-stop through the night exploring the Argyll and Bute loch network."

In spite of a yellow weather warning, the group managed to circumnavigate the Isle of Arran, battled the Irish Sea for a few days, raced a submarine through the Cumbrae gap and even fought their way up the Clyde to Glasgow city centre.

Hugo said: "We were privileged to see some incredible wildlife on this expedition, including seals, porpoise, puffins, otters, a frog, jellyfish the size of a coffee table and other various sea birds."

The Clye expedition allowed the group to gel as a team and gain an appreciation of the kind of challenges they will face during their Atlantic crossing in December.

To find out more about the team please visit www.hmsoardacious.com