WEST Devon’s own Rowing Marine has embarked on his attempt to become the first physically disabled person to row 3,500 miles solo and unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean after postponing the challenge in December.

Former Royal Marine Lee Spencer, an amputee from Horrabridge, was set to leave Gibraltar on December 12, but this was always weather dependant.

Lee had flown out to Gibraltar on December 3 and was prepared to take any window of opportunity to set off on the challenge that came between then and the end of the year — but one did not appear.

The Gibraltar straits are notoriously tough to navigate and the conditions would have made a row futile.

When Lee made the decision to postpone, he took his boat ‘Hope’ out of the water and discovered a serious leak in the watermaker system.

Lee said: ‘Had that gone undiscovered it would have been a nightmare to fix at sea at best and caused some serious damage to the electrics at worst.’

He added: ‘People keep telling me things happen for a reason.’

Lee headed back out to Gibraltar on January 3 and was preparing to take the earliest weather window from January 5. He set off from Gibraltar on Tuesday but due to the weather he started his Guinness World Record Attempt from Portugal yesterday (Wednesday).

Lee’s challenge is to set two world records — the first physically disabled person to row across the Atlantic, east to west, from mainland Europe to mainland South America, non-stop and unsupported 3,500 miles, to Venezuela and to beat the able bodied record set by Stein Hoff in 2002 of 96 days, 12 hours and 45 minutes — but also to show that disability should not stand in the way of people’s achievement.

So far, sponsorship for the challenge stands at more than £20,000 — to donate you can visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/LeeJSpencer — to stay up-to-date on Lee’s travels, you can visit www.leespencer.co.uk

• IN October last year the Times spoke with Lee about the drive and determination behind the challenge.

‘I plan to do it in 60 to 70 days. It is a challenge which only three people have completed. If I can beat Stein Hoff my message that you are not defined by disability will get out there even more. If a disabled person can beat an able bodied person then that will send a strong message that you are not defined by your disability,’ said Lee, who lost his left leg below the knee in a road accident on the M3 when he went to help another motorist who had broken down.

Lee first hit the headlines in early 2015 after he and three fellow amputee former and serving servicemen rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic. The men braved tropical storms, 40-foot waves and sleep deprivation to row from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua, in a record-breaking 46 days, six hours and 49 minutes. While 29 crews entered the race, they really stood out — as all the others were able-bodied.

It was this challenge which inspired Lee to pick up the oars again.

Lee, who served for 24 years with the Royal Marines, will set off from Gibraltar, added: ‘The toughest part about all of this has been staying positive for the past two and a half years. But the reasons for the row are still as valid today as they were when this first started over two years ago — to raise awareness and funds for the Royal Marines Charity and The Endeavour Fund.’