A CHARTERED surveyor attempting to survive on a remote rocky outpost in the Atlantic Ocean for a record-breaking 60 days has set off on his journey.
Nick Hancock, 38, from Ratho, near Edinburgh, has left the island of Harris on the final leg of his journey to the islet of Rockall.
Announcing his departure yesterday, he tweeted: "That's us away from Leverburgh, 12-15 hours to Rockall due to head winds. Might be the last Tweet before confirm success or failure tomorrow."
Rockall, more than 250 miles to the west of the Outer Hebrides, is not the most hospitable place. Just 100ft wide, there is no soil or vegetation to speak of, but Rockall has drawn those of an intrepid spirit over the years.
It has also been a disputed territory The earliest recorded landing was in 1810, by an officer called Basil Hall from the HMS Endymion. But Ireland, Iceland, Denmark and the Faroes have all had made claims to the rock which has become attractive with reports of the considerable oil and gas reserves which may surround it.
In September 1955, Captain Connell of HMS Vidal led a naval expedition that landed on the rock, planted a Union flag, affixed a plaque and formally annexed Rockall to the British Crown.
But it is not sovereignty that is driving Nick Hancock, rather he is looking for fresh challenges.
He said: "I had run some marathons after marathons, ultra marathons and climbed some big mountains. But the place just grabbed me and I felt firstly I had to go and secondly I would like to break the record."
He wants to better the 40 days British adventurer and former SAS soldier Tom McClean spent on the rock in 1985 which still stands as the solo occupation record. The 42 days that three Greenpeace activists set in 1997 is also in his sights.
Mr Hancock's residence for the next two months will be a converted water bowser or storage tank measuring just 8ft long, 4ft wide and three-and-a-half feet high. He has installed access hatches and a ventilation inlet and has found a small diesel-powered portable winch, which he has calculated will be able to pull his new dwelling up a sheer cliff.
He will also have a small wind generator, solar panel, battery and satellite system including a phone to keep in touch with the outside world.
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