A FIREMAN has finally embarked on his ambitious naked row across the Atlantic – almost a month after the event was due to start.

Dean Jagger, from Mirfield, and his firefighting colleague at Manchester Airport, Neil Gyllenship, were preparing to strip off for the 3,000-mile race from Tenerife to Antigua.

Their aim was to raise £100,000 for charity in the Atlantic Rowing Race, known as the world’s toughest rowing race.

The pair were due to set off from La Gomera on December 6, but hurricane winds battering Tenerife meant it was unsafe for the boats to leave the port.

Now almost four weeks after the scheduled start date, the fleet of 30 boats, including the duo’s Team Heatwave, have finally passed the start line.

They now face 50ft waves, busy shipping lanes and curious whales – and the threat of yet another storm brewing.

And all this while having to deal with the challenge of rowing naked for 12 hours each day for over a month!

However, the pair said they were excited to finally be setting off on their adventure of a lifetime.

Watch manager Neil, 34, from the Wirral, said: “Although the delayed start time has been frustrating we are extremely positive as this extra time has allowed us to train and prepare for the challenge ahead.

“Our plan is to row hard and fast for the first 10 days before dropping further south as another hurricane is developing and we hope to just get the tail ends of this storm.

“During their trip, the pair will live on boil-in-the-bag meals and drink purified by seawater.

They hope to raise more than £100,000 for Claire House Children’s Hospice in Bebington, Merseyside, and children’s charity Child-flight, which provides holidays for sick and deserving children.

Father-of-three Dean, 40, said: “We wanted to do something amazing for charity. I wanted a life-changing challenge.”

The Atlantic Rowing Race has been completed by fewer people than have climbed Mount Everest.

Rowers aim to break the existing world record for the crossing of 40 days.

Neil said: “We are excited and nervous about the challenge and now that the start is here there is no going back!

“The support from our Manchester Airport colleagues, friends and family is what is spurring us on as is the determination to raise a lot of money for three deserving charities.”