Model boat Snoopy Sloop sets sail for Atlantic crossing

27 November 2012 Last updated at 17:36 ET Help

A retired Nato scientist from Berkshire has launched what he hopes will be the first unmanned boat to cross the Atlantic.

Robin Lovelock's 4ft (1.2m) boat Snoopy Sloop set sail from Barton-on-Sea on the Hampshire coast.

A Global Positioning System (GPS) computer is designed to pilot the boat for the 5,000 miles (8,000km), but he admitted it would be a "real struggle".

It is thought no unmanned boat has ever crossed the Atlantic. Recent tries by French and Welsh teams failed due to weather and technical problems.

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