AN Abergavenny woman will be aiming to break several records when she embarks on a charity row across the Atlantic.

Elaine Theaker, 54, is a member of the Atlantic Ladies, a four-strong group of mums who will be rowing all 3,000 nautical miles of the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge in December.

They will be competing against more than 30 teams in the World’s Toughest Row, where they could be at sea for up to 70 days.

According to Mrs Theaker the success of another group of mums in Yorkshire, who completed an Atlantic row earlier this year and became the first and oldest women to do so, served as her inspiration.

“Seeing them achieve that definitely put the idea in our minds that we could do the same,” she said.

Mrs Theaker, a member of Monmouth Rowing Club, began searching for fellow crew members to take on the expedition and came across Dianne Carrington, who lives in Shrewsbury.

Eventually the group was bolstered by the additions of Sharon Magrath and Deborah Bass, both also hailing from Shrewsbury, and the Atlantic Ladies were formed.

Since forming the mums see each other every other week to train together, and recently completed a 28-hour overnight row in Cardiff Bay.

“It was good practice but it will be nothing like the real thing,” said Mrs Theaker. “The race itself is more about mental strength than your rowing, you’ve got to have the mental endurance and be sure that you can keep going when your body is telling you no.

“It’s going to be a challenge but we’re all up for it.”

If successful, the Ladies - with a combined age of 225 years – will break several world records including the oldest crew of women to row across the Atlantic and the oldest crew of four to row any ocean.

The race, which sets off from the Canaries and finishes in Antigua, will also see families separated for a considerable time.

Mrs Theaker, who is a lawyer and managing director of legal practice Advantage Legal, lives with husband Steve and 14-year-old son Che.

“Being away from home for potentially three months is a big sacrifice, both at home and at work but they’ve been fantastic,” said Mrs Theaker.

According to the Ladies, the venture will cost around £100,000 – with their boat being the most expensive item. Once the race is over, the boat will be sold and the net proceeds will be donated equally to four chosen charities.

For more information visit www.atlanticladies.co. To donate visit gofundme.com/oarsome-ladies-row-the-atlantic