A RETIRED architect has achieved his goal of sailing all round Britain to raise thousands of pounds for his daughter's charity.

Douglas Addison, 68, is safely home in Swanage having set off three months ago and experienced everything from gales to thick fog during his 2,500-mile epic journey.

His 31ft ketch Galatea encountered gales off Cornwall, South Wales and southern Ireland and narrowly missed colliding with ships in thick fog off the Firth of Aberdeen and Dover.

His six-knot hull raced over 13 knots through the Pentland Firth, but to his relief he found a moderate sea off Scotland's fearsome Cape Wrath.

Douglas said: "I met fantastic, friendly people along the way - I met people who were extremely helpful and did odd jobs for me without asking for payment.

"The boat was perfect - it may be 25 years old but it performed better than the skipper!"

In the Outer Hebrides he spotted puffins, seals and basking sharks. Midsummer's day was spent at Stromness in the Orkneys where there was a rally and dinner for members of the Cruising Association to celebrate Nelson's victory at Trafalgar.

"I've sailed to northern Spain but this was the most challenging thing I've ever done," he said. "Weather was a major problem as every day it changed."

His efforts are in aid of Red Shoes - a charity set up by his eldest daughter Heather, which helps children with disabilities.

So far Douglas has raised over £3,500 to support an appeal at the Julia's House children's hospice in Poole, which needs an electric bed.

Anyone who would like to make a donation can send cheques made payable to The Red Shoes Charitable Trust, to Third Floor, 4 Egerton Place, London SW3 2EF.

More information about the charity is on the website www.theredshoecharity.org.

First published: August 10