By Ben Shahrabi
A crew of sailors from Maldon and Burnham have embarked on a round-Britain "trip of a lifetime" to raise funds for Farleigh Hospice.
The team will visit coastal landmarks throughout the country over the next seven weeks, before returning home on September 1.
The sponsored sail was organised by Farleigh Hospice and Premier Sailing in Maldon.
Founder Colin Stracey and Farleigh Hospice fundraising manager Debbie de Boltz were among those waving the team off as they set sail from Burnham on Monday morning.
Also among them was Caroline Coastal presenter Tim Davis, who is a keen sailor. He attended the launch in honour of those impacted by cancer.
Tim said: “My wife died of cancer several years ago.
“I also have many friends whose lives have been affected by cancer and have been helped by the activities of Farleigh Hospice.”
Founded in 1982, Farleigh Hospice is a charity which provides care to those affected by terminal or life-limiting illnesses in mid-Essex.
A spokesman for the charity described the latest fundraiser as “the trip of a lifetime”.
They added: “Imagine sailing around our wonderful coastline, enjoying the ever-changing scenery and wildlife, experiencing the challenges of tidal currents, rocks and sand banks, and entering our many historical ports from the sea.
“And imagine, at the same time, being part of a fundraising venture for Farleigh Hospice.”
The seven-leg trip will see crewmembers travel from Burnham to Newcastle, then to Inverness. They will sail alongside mountains via the Caledonian Canal to Oban, then on to Rhu.
Following a visit to the picturesque fishing harbour of Portpatrick, the route will take the crew across the Irish Sea to Bangor, before heading to Milford Haven.
After rounding Land’s End, they will explore the Cornish coast before arriving in Plymouth.
The final leg will see the crew stop overnight at Brighton or Eastbourne, before returning home to Burnham on September 1.
For more information about the trip, visit the Farleigh Hospice website.
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