THE brave grandad rowing solo across 3,000 of the Atlantic Ocean says he’s been notching up more than 60 miles in a single day thanks to favourable winds.

Frank Rothwell, 70, is the oldest participant in the Talisker Whisky Atlantic Challenge.

Speaking on an international link from his boat "Never too Old" the intrepid traveller said: “I’ve been making great progress.

“I’ve clocked 75, 60 and 62 miles in the last three days. Marvellous. The wind has been bowling me along.

“To be honest rowing a boat solo means you make no progress at all if the wind is against you.”

Oldham-born Frank who now lives in Greenfield, expects to reach the half way point of his marathon mission to raise a million pounds for Alzheimer’s UK by the weekend, weather permitting.

And he hopes to make landfall in Antigua by Valentines Day, February 14 to be reunited with Judith, his wife of 50 years.

“We were childhood sweethearts,” he explained. “She’s my best friend and I speak to her three times a day.

“Why, she’s even got a list of things for me to do when I get home — that will keep me from travelling for a while,” he quipped.

He said her has seen hundreds of dolphins on his deep sea journey “and I've been bombarded by flying fish, really boney things.”

He is keeping to a strict regime of rowing through the day and sleeping for up to eight hours at night.

“I’m deeply touched by all the support I’m getting from people back home. Knowing they are there means a lot - it helps keep me going. I cant thank them enough.”

Says his son Luke: “Dad is very focused and is adopting his own strategy for finishing the race. It’s all about finishing.”

Frank is bidding to raise one million pounds for the Alzheimer’s UK and you support

his cause by donating to his JustGiving page here: www.justgiving.com/frankrothwell

To chart his progress, download the free app “yb races” and follow in realtime by selecting Talisker Challenge, and you’ll be able to see his boat “Never too Old.”