Manxman Andrew Baker has just passed the Canary Islands in his bid to row the Atlantic for charity.

Andrew, a lawyer at Douglas-based firm Smith Taubitz Unsworth, began the journey in mid-December from Lagos, Portugal, setting off in his Rannoch-built R20 ocean rowing boat ’Aurelia’ and bound for the Caribbean.

Through undertaking this feat, he aims to raise money and awareness for the local charity Reach IOM and others which work to promote good mental health.

His progress is being tracked on his blog, ’Reach into the Blue’ which includes his GPS position and posted updates from Andrew himself.

His last post read ’Yeeaaaah. Cleared the Canaries, and dodged the shipping lane of pain.

’Next stop Barbados baby!’

In the past week as he passed through the archipelago, he posted: ’Tough few days on the oars (fun though too).

’Gusty winds, waves breaking, concentration required at all times.

’Long may it last.’

One day consisted of rowing 30 miles straight - in a total journey distance of 4,000 nautical miles which Andrew said is ’expected to last no more than 90 days, however that is entirely dependent on the weather, the rower, and an endless number of possible hazards and hiccups.’

It has not all been smooth sailing since leaving Portugal - Aurelia has been capsized twice by ’huge waves’, and has at times been at risk of drifting off course, eastwards towards Morocco.

Fortunately, the R20 is designed to self-right after capsizing, and Andrew has also been employing the use of drogue and ’parachute’ anchors to hold the vessel on its westerly course.

So far, he has raised more than £2,000 for Reach IOM, Manx Wildlife Trust (chosen because of the positive effects of nature on mental health) and Whistleblowers UK.

His blog and location can be found at https://www.reachintotheblue.com/#track-progress

And donations can be made to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/reachintotheblue