Aberdeenshire man to sail around Britain to honour late friend

Brian Munro will be taking on the mammoth challenge in the Lauren Sophia, named after his two daughters, to raise money but also to remember his close friend George Peggy Senior. The former fisherman, from Fife, had jested about Mr Munro’s previous attempt to navigate round Britain, saying he “missed out the top part” by avoiding Shetland and Orkney. In 2017, he had attempted to sail around Britain for charity and travelled 2,300 miles – but missed out the north islands. When Mr Peggy died, Mr Munro couldn’t make his funeral due to work commitments – so now hopes to commemorate his former friend and fulfil his goal of truly sailing around the UK. The former Aberdeen Harbour worker, who left his job in January to pursue a career in sailing, hopes to complete the task in less than six weeks. Mr Munro will follow in the wake of Will Hodshon, 42, and Rich Mitchel, 44, who last year completed the fastest ever UK mainland circumnavigation in an open sailing dinghy to raise funds for the RNLI and Surfers Against Sewage. He said: “I hope to have fewer problems this time. “Last time I went clockwise around Britain, but the engine completely broke and took a month to fix. “I’m hoping for plain sailing this time – and it will be brilliant to go up around Shetland. “Hopefully it would make George proud. He was a good friend and really helpful when I was learning the ropes of sailing. “He had more than 30 years at sea as a fisherman and joked I really hadn’t been around Britain as I had missed the islands. “I feel I know have the chance to fulfil my goal properly.” Mr Munro will kick-off the journey by launching from Aberdour and travelling to Eyemouth before working his way around Britain. The Kinlochbervie to Stromness and Stromness to Wick legs promising to be standouts. His final leg will be from Montrose to the Forth Bridges. He added: “I’ve learnt a lot from the mistakes of last time. “It will be difficult and I don’t take the sea lightly, but my motivation will be George. “I want to prove to myself I can do it and prove that to him.” For more about the adventure or support the fundraising effort, visit sailingaroundbritain.co.uk.