FIREFIGHTER Billy Taylor got his sea legs when he rowed 2,800 miles across the Pacific Ocean in 2014.

Now he is planning another adventure and will join a team rowing across the Indian Ocean in June.

The team will set off from Western Australia and row 3,600 miles to Mauritius, making sure they don't collide with other vessels or whales along the way.

In 2014 Mr Taylor, 44, a retained firefighter in Charlbury and a former pupil at Wallingford School, took part in the Great Pacific Race, rowing from Monterey Bay in California to Honolulu, Hawaii.

The trip raised funds and awareness of Young Onset Parkinson's disease, and this time one of his fellow rowers will be Robin Buttery, 45, who has the disease which affects the nervous system.

Mr Buttery's rowing performance will be compared to that of other rowers in a bid to aid research into his condition.

Mr Taylor, who joined a crew sailing from Australia to the UK at the age of 17, said: "I'm really looking forward to the trip - I like life out on the ocean.

"The world record for the Indian Ocean is 53 days and but it could take us 90 days.

"If the weather is bad there is not much you can do about it but the boat is incredibly safe - you keep the hatches shut and it's like a cork.

"You row for two hours and then rest for two hours - the saltwater boils you get on your backside can be quite painful.

"You have to watch out for whales and other ships - they are the real dangers - last time we saw killer whales, sharks and flying fish.

Staff from the Movement Science Group at Oxford Brookes University will monitor Mr Buttery's rowing performance.

The group explores factors affecting optimal human performance in health and disease.

Researchers want to investigate how people cope with the prolonged physical and mental stresses of ocean rowing

Professor Helen Dawes said: "Anyone involved in sport will know that motor skills improve when you practice a skill and that your motor control is affected when you are tired.

"However, with technological developments we are able to use body sensors to monitor motor skill changes, alongside physiological and emotional responses.

"This will help us to understand how the neuro-muscular system copes and adapts to prolonged stress."

Mr Taylor lives with partner Louise Thomas, son Andy Taylor, 21, and stepson Kieran Thomas, 21.

The firefighter was due to take part in the Great Pacific Race last year with schoolfriend Alex Flynn but for family reasons Mr Flynn decided not to take part and Mr Taylor decided to wait a year before joining another race.

For the Indian Ocean row, money is being raised for the charity Spotlight YOPD, which raises awareness of Parkinson’s as a condition that affects the under 50s as well as the elderly, in a bid to get better treatment.

If people would like to donate to the charity they should text the message YOPD17 £(plus the amount you would like to donate) to the number 70070.

Companies which want to support the voyage as corporate sponsors should email Billy@spotlightyopd.org for a sponsorship pack.