In a world with few challenges left to conquer, Mick Dawson is taking on one of the toughest of them all.

A month ago the Brighton man disappeared into the vast emptiness of the world's greatest ocean with nothing for company except a rowing boat, some friendly whales and his Dean Martin record collection.

Yet while the ex-Royal Marine is already more than 1,500 miles into his epic attempt to become the first person to successfully row 6,000 miles solo and unsupported eastwards across the Pacific Ocean, he is having difficulty attracting attention.

The same British media who made a national heroine out of round-the-world sailor Ellen MacArthur has yet to cotton on to the fact a Brit is well on his way to conquering a route revered by many as the Everest of ocean rowing.

Not only that but Mick, 39, has set off without a sponsor, selling his house to raise funds.

One month in, Mick's story already involves storms, sharks, injury and emergency surgery. He left Brighton for Japan on April 22. Unknown to him, his fiance Michelle Roberts, 24, a Brighton swimming instructor, who had been due to fly out with him, needed emergency stomach surgery for a large cyst. Not wanting Mick to cancel his trip, she told him she just had stomach ache.

Mick was livid when he discovered the truth.

Yet he had come too far to turn back so in Japan he made ready his boat, the Mrs D, and set off on May 6 at 2am.

It is his second attempt - the first in June last year ended in failure after 12 days when part of the rudder sheared off.

This time he is confident he will beat the currents and pass under the Golden Gate Bridge to reach San Francisco in record time.

Only one rower has made the eastward Pacific crossing before. In 1991 Frenchman Gerard D'Aboville landed near Portland, Oregon, after 134 days instead of San Francisco as planned.

As he waved his son off last month, Mick's father Derek, 65, told reporters: "Until he gets it out of his system he will never give up. We are very proud of him."

The first few weeks were plagued by frequent typhoons.

Michelle, who is tracking Mick's beacon signal and speaks to him occasionally via satellite phone, said two whales had stayed with him.

Mick managed to row 700 miles in two weeks despite the typhoon and a cracked rib. Michelle said: "He got caught by a wave and landed badly, catching his chest on the side of the boat but he didn't stop rowing. He saw one shark but it didn't come too near."

The lack of sponsorship and publicity so far is helping to drive Mick on.

Michelle said: "We honestly thought more people would have taken an interest by now but he is confident he can do this whatever. I'm working constantly, his family and friends are all chipping in and credit cards are great things but he is still hoping to get a sponsor."

You can follow Mick's progress at www.ifitwaseasyeverybodywoulddoit.com. Any messages for Mick can be sent to solopacific@hotmail.com