A MALDON sailor battling a rare nerve illness has completed a 300-mile journey around the UK coast.

Dave Selby, 57, was waved off by friends, family and town dignitaries from Maldon Town Quay in mid July.

Mr Selby, of Downs Road, Maldon reached his final destination of The Southampton Boat Show, where he put his 18ft boat Marlin on display, after two months and two hospital stays.

He suffers from a viral condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome which affects his peripheral nervous system.

Mr Selby has an even rarer variant called CIDP, which means the messages stop getting through to his legs about every four and a half weeks.

He used his challenge to raise awareness of his condition while raising money for the Guillain-Barré charity and encouraging others to take up sailing.

Mr Selby took two months to sail to the show, travelling small distances as weather, time and his health allowed.

He said: “I’m pretty certain it’s a record. I don’t think anyone in the history of sailing has ever taken so long to cover such a small distance.

“I’ve got a wall-planner that says `legs,’ `no legs,’ and I had to go into hospital twice.

“It was tense at times as I was running low on legs, but what kept me going was the support and friendship I found along the way, and the message I want to share.”

By the end of the show visitors had contributed £1,300 to bring his charity fund to well over £5,000.

The Practical Boat Owner magazine columnist added: “The message went down really well. I wanted to show that anyone can get afloat and lack of money is no barrier.

“I simply want to share all that sailing has given me. It’s transformed my life.

“Being unwell was a blessing in a way. It gave me the push I needed to have an adventure and put something back.”

You can read about Mr Selby’s trip by visiting pbo.co.uk/dave-selby.

To donate visit justgiving.com/Dave-Selby-Marlins-Mission.