A boat lover who has dreamed for seven years of rowing across the Atlantic wants to include Bermuda in his final attempt.American rower Victor Mooney, who says he’s counting on the currents to bring him to Bermuda, plans to start rowing on February 1 from Cape Verde off West Africa, all the way back home to New York City a 5,000 mile journey which will trace much of the Middle Passage route once used by slave traders.“Bermuda is historically very close to America and we have a lot of affinity with the Island,” said Mr Mooney, who is timing his journey to coincide with Black History Month in February.“I hope to bring Bermuda’s important role in Black history to life.”His mission is also to raise money and awareness for HIV prevention.“I know Bermuda’s been affected by this disease in the past, and Bermuda has been active in the global fight against HIV and Aids by partnering with groups overseas, so I want to show my appreciation for that. There has also been a lot of travelling back and forth between Bermuda and America during our history, and it’s a place that was affected by the slave trade too, so I just really hope I can stop off there along the way.”Mr Mooney, a 45-year-old native of Queens, hopes to complete the journey on his 21ft boat, Never Give Up.He said: “It’s going to take me three or four months to make it across to the Caribbean. I’m going to come in by Antigua and then claw my way up north. From there it’s a direct path to Bermuda.“This is just a rowboat, with no motor or sail, so my movement is going to be controlled by the ocean, but a stop off on the Island would be ideal.”He said he’s never visited but his mother, grandmother and sisters used to enjoy coming together to Bermuda.Next month will mark Mr Mooney’s third attempt to row by himself across the Atlantic.In May 2006 his first boat sank off the coast of Senegal, and in May 2009 he ran out of water about 300 miles off Guinea-Bissau in West Africa.“I’ve made a lot of improvements to this boat, and I don’t give up easily,” he said.The journey will end at New York’s Brooklyn Bridge.Mr Mooney invites Bermudians to follow his progress: www.goreechallenge.com