As the rain crashed down on to his boat, Michael English wondered whether he was taking his exercise in endurance too far.

For days he had been dealing with gales, storms and high winds as he navigated his way slowly but surely around Britain's coastline.

But the 62-year-old was determined to keep going because he knew every mile he covered was raising money for seriously ill children.

The keen sailor was inspired to tackle the three-month trip after reading in The Argus about the opening of the Chestnut Tree House children's hospice in Angmering.

He said: "I was impressed by the work they were doing and I decided if I was going to do this round-Britain trip then I would do it for the hospice. It is an excellent cause."

Mr English, who works as a haulage driver, has been involved with boats all his life but had never attempted a trip like this on his own before.

He said: "I've done some longish journeys like going across the Channel but this was something a bit different.

"I knew it would be difficult but I was looking forward to the challenge."

Mr English, from Portslade, has owned his 23-year-old boat Elsker for three years and keeps it at Brighton Marina. Its name means love in Danish.

He set off from Littlehampton on May 15 and went clockwise, taking in the Cornish coastline before heading across the Bristol Channel, into the Irish Sea and north to the western coast of Scotland and the Orkneys, stopping at Northern Ireland on the way.

He spent at least ten hours a day guiding the nine-metre boat from harbour to harbour and town to town.

He negotiated his way along the north coast of Scotland, the Pentland Firth, towards the Orkney Islands, one of the most notoriously difficult stretches on his route, before heading down the east coast.

Closer to home he faced his longest and most difficult stretch. Bad weather and strong tides meant it took him 17 hours to travel from Ramsgate in Kent to Eastbourne.

Spending all that time on the boat meant Mr English had to be happy with his own company.

He said: "I didn't get too lonely. I like my own company and there was so much to see and do.

"The sea birds were great and would follow you everywhere.

"One day at Cardigan Bay about 30 dolphins put in an appearance, which was lovely to see. Often while I was out in the sea a seal would poke his head up out of the water to have a good look at me.

"They were probably thinking, 'What on earth is he doing out here?'."

At night and in quiet moments during the day, Mr English kept himself amused by reading and listening to the radio.

His cabin, about seven metres long, has a table, seat, small cooker, toilet, shower and separate bed area.

He bought food along the route - fish and chips was a regular treat - but made meals for himself as well.

He said: "My favourite is meatballs and pasta because it is so simple. You just put everything in and let it cook."

He was stranded at Ballycastle in Northern Ireland for days because of bad weather but spent time with relatives.

He also had a couple of days in Newcastle with a friend but apart from those breaks the whole three months away was spent at sea.

One of the highlights of the trip for Mr English's granddaughter Abigail, five, was his visit to the Scottish village of Tobermory, made famous by the children's TV programme Balamory.

Mr English said: "When I got back she was thrilled I had been there and wanted to know if I had met all the characters. It was a lovely village. The houses are painted in bright colours and it is very distinctive."

Every day's journey required preparation. Mr English had to map his route, check the tides and log his position regularly.

The importance of keeping an eye on the tides was emphasised when he arrived at the busy port of Holyhead in Wales.

He said: "The tides are tremendously strong there. I arrived as they were turning and even though the boat had a 35 horsepower engine going at full throttle, I still found myself being pushed backwards.

"It didn't help when the fog came down and another yacht went right across my bows.

"Much as I enjoyed the trip there were some difficult times. Heading down the East Coast was particularly difficult and some of the weather was bad around Scotland.

"It was difficult when I woke every morning and put on the waterproofs, knowing I was going to get soaked again after another ten hours out there.

"There were a couple of storms and a big gale in the Irish sea I had to deal with.

"I got a little concerned up in the Western Isles when I got soaking wet yet again and started to wonder about how far I could keep on.

"But the thought of what I was doing it for kept me going."

There were good times as well when the weather calmed down and Mr English had a close-up view of some of Britain's most spectacular scenery.

He said: "It could get lonely at times but there were all the seabirds and wildlife to look at and keep me company."

Mr English has plenty of fond memories of his journey but it was the visit to the Orkneys that sticks in his mind.

He said: "There were some beautiful places up there and so much history. It was wonderful.

"I would drop moorings each night at marinas or harbours and some of the people I met were fantastic.

"I was getting donations and harbourmasters would waive their dues and let me have fuel to save money for the hospice."

On one occasion off Scotland, Mr English's mainsail ripped and his mast pin snapped.

He had to call into a tiny fishing harbour for help and everyone rallied round.

He said: "The locals had the sail off my boat and took it away to get it mended and they all helped with the mast as well.

"The next morning everything was fixed and I could carry on. They were marvellous and couldn't do enough to help."

Mr English sailed back into Littlehampton on Sunday, his 62nd birthday, after covering about 2,200 miles.

He was greeted by his wife Connie, his four sons, Abigail and his grandson Ryan, eight.

He said: "They were really supportive and are very proud of what I've managed to achieve. I am enjoying taking it easy now but it was a terrific experience.

"I was glad to get back because I was so tired and it was good to see my family and friends again but I would be happy to go on a similar trip. This time I would go anticlockwise instead.

"I have learned a lot on this trip and seen how friendly and helpful people can be. I've come back a lot happier."

Money is still coming in and Mr English hopes to have raised thousands of pounds for the hospice, which looks after terminally ill children and those with life-limiting illnesses.

It also provides respite care to their families.

To learn more about it, go to www.chestnut-tree-house.org.uk or to make a donation, call 01903 524111 and quote reference DCHWEB.