ALLOA'S young-at-heart charity sailing adventurer is back in warm Scottish waters as he begins the final leg home on his round the UK journey.

Murdoch McGregor, 82, recently rounded the hazardous Cape Wrath in the north of Scotland as he continues his 1,900 nautical mile voyage aboard his boat Artemis in a bid to net funds for Mental Health UK.

As previously reported, intrepid Murdoch cast off from his home town of Alloa at the start of June and if all goes well, he is due back at the harbour this Sunday, August 22, at 1pm.

His efforts, recently hindered by bad weather and a back injury, have already netted around £5,700 for the good cause, which is close to his heart as his younger brother Jim struggled with mental health problems all his life.

As he began the final leg home at the start of the week, Murdoch opened up on the struggles his brother faced in a bid to shatter stigmas while bettering how supports those who battle problems every day.

He told the Advertiser: “I still hear the stock answer that I heard a way back in the 1960s, when people like my brother were expressing a concern about their health and how bad they were feeling.

“We are told: 'you'll just need to wear it, you'll just need to get a grip'.

“That situation still prevails.”

Murdoch added: “Everybody has a bad day, but they don't have black hole days that don't go away and that's what we need to get over to folks.”

Jim, who suffered from depression, anguish and experienced torment at times, sadly passed away two years ago at the age of 75.

However, has very much been on the voyage in Murdoch's heart and mind, along with many others who have been affected by the pandemic more recently.

Speaking about how his brother "struggled valiantly" over the years, Murdoch said: “I totally admire him for being able to live as near a normal life as possible.

“He ran his own home, he looked after his finances, he did everything he possibly could to live normally but his illness just overcame him from time to time.”

Murdoch added: “I believe the health authorities are now trying to get the message over, it's about trying to get the public to accept people.”

The Alloa man, who only started sailing at 72, has been documenting the journey on his social media pages and confirmed to the Advertiser that a back injury nearly put an end to the campaign, with around 300 miles left to go.

However, a chance encounter with a holidaying physio turned the tide and after a massage and rest on doctors' orders, he vowed to complete the voyage.

He wrote last week: “What will be, will be and I accept that.

“However, my friends, rest assured that Artemis will be coming home and my circumnavigation will be completed. No ifs, no buts.

“Artemis and I are in the finishing straight and we will get over that finish line.”

To support Murdoch's fundraiser, visit bit.ly/36vZFha.