A 61-year-old man is preparing for a solo row across the Atlantic from the US to France, covering nearly 4,000 miles.

In the coming months, one man will attempt to row almost 4,000 miles across the vast Atlantic Ocean.

Peter Harley, aged 61, plans to depart from Virginia Beach next week, weather permitting, aiming for La Trinité-sur-Mer, France.

Harley told Dinogo on Thursday that he expects the entire rowing journey to take between three to four months.

"I'm not nervous," Harley said. "Having spent many years at sea in South Africa, I'm familiar with what's ahead and not afraid of it."

Harley shared that his inspiration for such an ambitious journey came while in his native South Africa a few years ago, but after moving to the US in 2019, the goal became much more achievable.

Harley plans to make his dream a reality by setting off into the Atlantic in a 24-foot boat. Though it's not your typical rowboat, it's built to withstand challenging conditions.

Ocean currents and weather will be major factors in his journey, but Harley remains confident in the boat's reliability.

"If the boat capsizes, it’s designed to automatically right itself," said Harley. "Tough conditions will eventually pass, so I’ll just have to ride them out."

The boat is outfitted with a sleeping cabin, ample storage, and solar panels to support communication and navigation. However, Harley joked, "The bathroom is just a bucket."

The boat is also equipped with a desalinator that turns seawater into fresh drinking water.

Thanks to the solar panels, Harley can maintain constant communication with his daughter, Bonnie Evans, who has been instrumental in preparing him for the journey.

Evans shared with Dinogo that she’s more excited than anxious about her father’s adventure. "If anyone can do this, it’s definitely my dad," she said, describing him as a detail-oriented planner who has thought of every aspect of the journey.

Preparing for the trans-Atlantic voyage has been no small feat—28 months of intense training, including 13 months of seven-day-a-week sessions.

"It’s been a demanding process that requires immense discipline, commitment, and focus," Harley explained.

Reflecting on the journey long in advance has helped Harley mentally prepare. He’s not concerned about the solitude, having spent plenty of time alone in the past.

Over the past eight months, Harley has had to adjust his eating habits to prepare for long periods without access to a kitchen. While at sea, he plans to rely on protein bars, oatmeal, and even pasta for sustenance.

The challenging nature of the event has motivated the father-daughter pair to turn it into a fundraiser supporting three charities: 5 Gyres, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and the Best Friends Animal Society.

"We wanted our efforts to address three key areas: the planet, people, and animals," Evans explained, speaking about their chosen causes.

If Harley succeeds in reaching France, he will make history as the first person to accomplish the feat. Two previous attempts have ended in failure.

"I’ve prepared as thoroughly as I can," Harley said. "I’m as strong and fit as possible, and I’ve done all I can. Now it’s just a matter of getting it done."