TWO brothers are embarking on a gruelling 2,000-mile voyage, sailing around the coast of the British Isles to raise cash for a south Essex charity.

Dea Osler, from Eastwood and brother Craig, from Hullbridge, are planning on circumnavigating the UK aboard their jointly owned 33ft yacht Nebula.

The duo will start their challenge from Wallasea Island on June 2 and estimate they will take anywhere between two and three months to complete the journey.

They are hoping to raise £2,000 for Havens Hospices, which cares for children and adults with life-limiting illnesses.

The brothers passed their skipper exams last month and have been “messing about” in boats since they were children.

Dean, 32, said: “Our dad always took us sailing and we spent most weekends on his boat.

“Craig stayed in love with sailing boats, even building his own. It was a bit slow-paced for me and I started taking an interest in motor boats, but when he came to me with this idea I said I was in straight away.”

The trip will take them around the British Isles and across to Ireland where they will go ashore to meet the locals at Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland.

Craig, 39, who works for Rayleigh Carpentry, turns 40 later this month and sees the challenge as a way of celebrating.

He said: “I wanted to test myself and raise money for a great charity.

“When I was younger I spent a lot of time at Great Ormond Street Hospital with a friend so I know how serious illnesses can affect young children.

“I wanted to make a difference to my own community and support Little Havens for the care they offer to local families. This is the longest either of us will have been away from our families and that is going to be really hard for us, but our dad is hoping to join us for a few days when we get down to the south coast.”

Dean, works for MPE Alarms in Battlesbridge – the company which maintain the nurses’ call alarms at the charity’s adult hospice, Fair Havens, in Westcliff.

He said: “I was shown around Fair Havens one day and it was a real eye-opener.

“I realised what a brilliant job the nurses do and how much local families need them.”

The pair have sailed about 600 miles over the past year to practice and done a few nights passages to get a feel for the challenges ahead.

To sponsor the brothers or follow their progress, visit www.justgiving.com/dean-craig-osler at www.nebula1234.tumblr.com