A BRAVE young man from Jacobstowe will be taking to the sea in a bid to become the youngest person to sail single-handed across the English Channel from Plymouth to Roscoff.

Keen sailing enthusiast Oliver Hancox, 15, will begin an intensive eight-week training programme with his safety boat for the voyage, which, weather conditions permitting, will take place this summer.

After losing his father, Neil, to cancer last year, Oliver wanted to undertake a challenge in aid of Cancer Research.

Neil Hancox was the first person to windsurf across the English Channel in the 1980s.

Oliver's trip is being supported by Mayflower Marina in Plymouth, where his boat will remain berthed, free of charge, throughout the training period.

Oliver, a pupil at Kelly College in Tavistock, is excited about the challenge: 'This is one of the most important things I have ever done.

'I hope to raise £10,000 for Cancer Research, as well as boost awareness of the charity and its work.

'Cancer affects so many people and I think this is why the support I am seeing is already so strong.

'My dad always loved adventure and this seems to have been passed down to me too.

'I am a little scared, but also incredibly excited and pleased that I can do my bit to help people in the future.'

Oliver will be followed behind by a friend of his father in another boat.

He added: 'My one worry is the super-tankers in the shipping channel, but apart from that, I am feeling really good about it.'

Managing director of Mayflower Marina, Charles Bush, said: 'Oliver is incredibly brave to even think of sailing across the Channel alone at the age of 15.

'The fact that he is raising money for Cancer Research, in the name of his late father, made it impossible for us not to support him in some small way.

'We will be providing him with free berthing throughout the duration of his training, allowing this money to instead be given to the charity.

'We really do wish him the very best in his quest and remain confident that his passion and determination will see him through to Roscoff.'

Oliver is planning to set sail on Tuesday, June 1 in a 1969 Silhouette called Cariad, which means Love in Welsh.

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