The rowing boat "Geomarine Challenger" is 10 metres long and weighs approximately 150 kilograms. It is made of marine plywood and designed and constructed in Guernsey.

The rowing boat was be powered by 5 rowers at any one time and steered by foot pedal and oar assistance.

The rowing boat is fitted with sliding seats and for this voyage was equipped with EPIRB (Electronic position indicating beacon), VHF radio, steaming light, radar reflector, GPS, compass and flares.

Team effort: (from left) Prison Officer Derek Salvage with Marc Pooley, Sean Smale and Wayne Mahy, who have been working on the rowing boat

The challenge in many ways, become a community project and nothing demonstrates this more than the way Prisoners and prison officers at Guernsey's prison helped to get the boat ready for the challenge. A complete refurbishment of 'Geomarine Challenger' was been carried out at the prison.

Row team leader Colin Fallaize said 'The prisoners help is invaluable and the boat could not be in better hands'

'These guys are doing a fantastic job with so much care and it's brilliant', he said

'There is so much pride going into it. You could say we have a captive audience there but they don't have to do it and they are doing it because they genuinley want to help'

Mr Selvidge said the Prison sought small community -based work projects that would assist young prisoners who have a trade background or are interested in developing trade skills.

The prison erected a polythene tunnel to create a dry and dust free environment.  Basic technical drawing skills were given and the vessel measured and surveyed which resulted in a set of scale drawings being produced.

The vessel was stripped of paint, it's joints re-taped and epoxy resin and fillers applied. Following this a full paint system was applied.

Once the boat had been refurbished the rowers set about re-rigging it and making final checks before sea trials.