EVERY working day George Rock is surrounded by high-tech equipment.

However, he plans to return to basics and pit nothing but raw muscle against the forces of nature.

A self-confessed adrenalin junkie Mr Rock, a BT customer service engineer from Ingleby Barwick, Teesside, has begun training for an attempt to row 3,000 miles over the North Atlantic, from Boston to Plymouth, in two year's time.

The 39-year-old father of two boys intends to get himself into the record books along with brother-in-law Nigel Morris, Michael James and Simon Chalk, who will be sculling with him.

Each will take the oars in two-hour shifts - increasing that to four-hour long stints.

Putting his life on the line is part of the attraction, says Mr Rock, who rowed 3,000 miles from Tenerife to Barbados in 64 days with former BT colleague Mr Chalk, in 1997.

One of the less attractive highlights of that crossing was a storm which created 50ft waves, which at times rolled the two-man boat on to its side and ultimately pushed the two men and their craft 300 miles back the way they had come.

"We had such a good time, but it was really scary at times with 50ft waves crashing over us, when I just prayed to be on dry land. But you get over that," said Mr Rock.

"It's all part of the experience. The danger and challenge are part of the fun."

The 36ft boat the four will use presents its own challenges too. The men have got to build and glue the boat together from pieces arriving in flat packs.

The race across the North Atlantic forms the Ocean Fours Rowing Challenge being staged in June 2003.