Cressida Bonas's boyfriend: We are leading the pack in Atlantic rowing challenge

Four Londoners are enduring searing heat, no fresh water and less than four hours’ sleep a night as they row across Atlantic for charity in one of the toughest endurance tests.

The team, led by Harry Wentworth-Stanley, is at “the front of the pack” in the 3,000-mile Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge from the Canary Islands to Antigua. The 6ft 6in property agent, rumoured to be back with on-off girlfriend Cressida Bonas, an ex of Prince Harry, only began rowing 12 months ago. Now he and friends Rory Buchanan, 28, Sam Greenly, 27, and Toby Fenwicke-Clennell, 27, are set to battle tropical storms.

The four aim to raise £500,000 for mental health charity James’s Place — set up in memory of Mr Wentworth-Stanley’s brother. James Wentworth-Stanley killed himself 10 years ago at the age of 21. Speaking from the boat on Friday, Mr Wentworth-Stanley, 27, said: “We are right out in front of the pack. There are 12 boats in the race and we are neck-and-neck with another boat.

“Everyone is doing two hours rowing, then two hours resting. The winds have been really nice to us so far, which is obviously very helpful, and we have managed to do 165 nautical miles in just under 2.5 days which is good progress.

“We are carrying all our food, with enough to last 50 days. We are aiming to do it in under 40 days, but the average is higher. We are struggling to get more than an hour and a half to sleep at a time but there’s a lot of adrenaline pumping.”

He told how the first morning of the race was the 10-year anniversary of his brother’s death so the crew marked it by watching the sun rise.

“We stopped to watch it and think of him — it was an important moment for me,” he said. “The people with me are all great friends. They are enthusiastic about the cause and all have their own personal motivation for wanting to row and raise money for mental health and suicide prevention. Toby and Sam also knew my brother. James was sporty and I have been on the hunt for an adventure that felt like an appropriate tribute. Now we want to take this feat on and win the race.”

The brothers both went to Harrow and grew up in Battersea. Their divorced parents are Clare Mounbatten, now Marchioness of Milford Haven, and former Lloyd’s insurance boss Nicholas Wentworth-Stanley.

The four set out to cross the Atlantic on December 14. Mr Wentworth-Stanley continued: “There’s no shower, there’s no loo, so it’s pretty primitive living. We just have a bucket on deck to use as a loo. For now, we are aiming to raise £500,000 for James’s memorial fund. So far we have raised £410,000 and if people can visit our website and donate, it would be brilliant.”

The charity aims to open a network of walk-in centres where people in emotional distress can see experts.

rowforjames.com