PETER Matheson is no stranger to adventures.

He drove 8,000 miles across Europe in a tractor and is now embarking on his next mad cap adventure, sailing around the British Isles with his loyal dog, Elsa.

At times, the keen fundraiser has battled through rough seas.

At others, he has sailed in the nude to mitigate the onslaught of a heatwave.

Peter, from Colchester, toured Europe in an old tractor in 2014 accompanied by his trusty Labrador Amber.

He took six months to complete the 8,000 mile journey to Norway and back.

Now he is sailing around the coast of the British Isles this time with his collie dog, Elsa.

His project is called Bumble Ahoy, a name which stems from his habit to bumble along in life.

Both adventures have been raising funds for the Tom Bowdidge Foundation and the Teenage Cancer Trust.

And while he also raised money for UNICEF last time, he is, this time, fundraising on behalf of the Petal Fundraising Group which collects money for childhood cancer research.

Peter said: “I was in the Colchester Young Farmers with Tom’s parents, that’s how it all got going. Since then it has grown and grown and it gets me doing these crazy things.”

Tom Bowdidge, from West Bergholt, died from a rare cancerous tumour aged 19.

His parents, Richard and Nikki, and his sister, Emma, vowed to carry on his fundraising work and set up the foundation to help young cancer sufferers.

Having completed his European adventure, Peter set to on his next.

He owned a dinghy in his twenties but that did not prepare him for the challenge ahead.

He set off from Wick in a Westerly yacht Wait and Hope with Elsa having spent the winter getting the boat ready for the expedition. He said: “Believe me, I’m no expert on this type of thing.

“Armed with just energy and enthusiasm, and some sailing experience, I wanted to do something with her.”

Cancer came calling to his own family a year ago, when his sister Heather, succumbed to the disease aged only 50.

Peter now has four months left of his journey. He spoke about his adventures as he sailed along the Essex coast on his way to Kent.

He said: “It’s just a question of going out and doing something and keeping it simple, I don’t plan anything. It’s about finding all sorts of ways to raise money.

“When visiting harbours I have been collecting beer glasses which I will be auctioning off when I get home.”

Since 2014, Peter has raised about £6,000. He said: “Elsa has gone from sheep to ships and she has taught herself well. She is adored wherever she goes.

He said: “No two days have been the same, we’ve been becalmed, we’ve had rough seas, we’ve been soaked, we’ve had the warmth and freezing temperatures, we’ve been joined by dolphins, we’ve been frustrated by the weather, and being harbour bound for days.

“But slowly and surely, we’re getting there.”

To donate visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/BumbleAhoy.