A COMPANY from Poole is backing a team that is taking part in a 2,700-mile ocean race.

Elliot Brown Watches is sponsoring Alex Flynn and Darren Taylor, both from Oxford, who are taking part in the Great Pacific Race from Monterey Bay in California to Honolulu, Hawaii.

The firm’s help will mean that the pair will be able to keep on track thanks to a pair of watches they have been presented with.

The company said that it was “thrilled” to be involved with the team.

The challenge is expected to take anything between 35 and 75 days and the route has never been rowed by a pair before, meaning a world record is up for grabs.

Alex and Darren have known each other since school and will be raising cash for the Cure Parkinson’s Trust after Alex was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2008.

Darren is a firefighter and will also fundraise for the Firefighters Charity.