Dad-of-two takes on 3330-mile solo race across Atlantic

Scott Turner is to set off on the six-week trek against around 100 other contestants on Sunday.

The carpet firm sales manager, from East Linton in East Lothian, is the only Scot to take part in the Plymouth to Rhode Island race, but even after 30 years of sailing, he said it is the toughest challenge he'll face.

The 43-year-old said: "It's difficult to prepare for a large voyage like this, the only way to prepare is just to do it.

"I've obviously spent a lot of time and money on the yacht getting it ready and I've been training in North Berwick.

"But you get 30-40ft waves and big swells that can be higher than the mast of the boat."

The Jester Challenge only takes place every four years, and has strict rules, which state contestants must sail solo, on a boat no bigger than 30 feet and using only manual and wind power.

Before Scott even reaches the main stretch of the Atlantic, he will have to navigate the shipping lanes of the Channel. If his boat, the Westerly Club Cruiser, Altamira, capsizes, he will have to rely on another ship finding him.

He said: "If anything happens you're basically on your own.

"After launching the distress beacon, you'd probably be picked up in about three days."

However, despite the swell of the oceans and inevitable bad weather, Scott says the isolation of being alone for six weeks can be a greater danger, with his one lifeline being a satellite phone call to his wife every three days to update his blog.

On the voyage Scott will have to survive on a six-week supply of dried food, and 70 litres of fresh water being carried on board.

And even though wife Lorraine, 45, has come around to accepting Scott's ambitious trek, he admits she wasn't too pleased at first.

He said: "When I first told the girls (Nicole, 15, and Rebecca, 13] they were thrilled, although I think that feeling was the opposite when I told my wife.

"I could win and it would be magic, but just getting there is as good as winning it for me."