Actor Peter Gadiot is rowing the Atlantic Ocean to raise awareness of the problem of modern-day slavery. The crossing from La Gomera, Canary Islands to Antigua is expected to take about 5 weeks, departing 6 December 2009.

The project also marks the United Nations’ International Day for the Abolition of Slavery — 2 December — which falls during the final preparations for the crossing.

The crossing is an enormous physical challenge, with all crew members rowing 2 hours on, 2 hours off, continuously 24 hours a day so that the boat never stops — not to mention the salt sores and blisters, no cooked food and no toilet facilities.

As if the 2,500 nautical mile/3,000 mile-ordeal was not gruelling enough, the crew of 10 (of which Peter is the youngest member), has decided to up the pressure by attempting to beat the cross-Atlantic rowing world record which is currently set at 33 days. The crew was hand picked by the captain, Ian Couch, one of only three men in the world to have rowed both the Atlantic and Indian Oceans.

"Having travelled to various parts of the world and seen, first hand, the effect of modern day slavery, I really wanted to do something big to raise awareness of this issue, and it doesn't get much bigger than rowing across one of the world’s great oceans," says Peter, who has named the project “Rowing Against Slavery."

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