SOLICITOR John Russell is preparing to go to the Bahamas – by raft.

Mr Russell is one of four people planning to travel across the Atlantic Ocean using only the wind and currents to propel them.

They are due to set off from the Canary Islands during the first week of January and expect to reach The Bahamas in around two and a half months.

The voyage, which will be raising money for the charity Water Aid, is the idea of Anthony Smith, an author, adventurer and former BBC Tomorrow’s World presenter who has wanted to cross the Atlantic Ocean by raft ever since reading about the true story of the survivors of The Anglo Saxon.

The men had been aboard a freighter sunk in the Atlantic by a German raider during World War II. During the attack they managed to scramble into a small lifeboat and ended up drifting westwards in the current, with the survivors landing in the Bahamas some two months later.

Mr Russell, one of the partners of Stroud and Dursley-based Goldinghams LLP, said the men taking part in the voyage were aged between 56 and 84 and had a number of reasons for wanting to take part.

"We aim to raise money for Water Aid, which campaigns to improve access to clean water in many poor parts of the world," he explained.

"Secondly, we will gather plankton samples and feed data back to schools in the UK.

The raft, to be named An-tiki, is to be built in the Canary Islands from parts shipped in a container from Felixstowe Docks. The frame will be constructed of large polyethylene water pipes lashed together with ropes.

The raft is being constructed to specifications drawn up by engineers and a boat-builder and will include solar panels, radar, a satellite phone and e-mail connection, along with emergency beacons and a desalinator.

The crew’s progress will be monitored daily by its UK headquarters but there will be no other ‘mother craft’ once they have left Spanish territorial waters.

To donate money to Water Aid and to follow the crew’s blogs go to: www.an-tiki.com