A MALDON sailor battling a rare nerve illness has completed the first stage of his epic 300 mile journey.

Dave Selby, 57, set sail from Maldon Town Quay in mid July in his 18ft boat Marlin.

Mr Selby, of Downs Road, Maldon, is sailing to The Southampton Boat Show where he will put the boat on display.

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

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

It meant his first 100 mile part of the trip was a real race against time.

He said: “I’ve got a wall-planner that says `legs,’ `no legs,’ and poor winds meant time was getting tight. I just got to London in the nick of time.”

After three days in hospital and a further week to recuperate Mr Selby is sailing on to Southampton in small hops as health, time and weather allow, to arrive for the opening of the show on September 16.

At the show he’s hosting a series of talks to demonstrate how to buy a boat and get sailing on a modest budget.

Mr Selby,who writes for Practical Boat Owner magazine, has already raised more than £2,700.

You can follow Mr Selby’s progress at pbo.co.uk/dave-selby.

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