A FATHER and son are preparing their boat on Portland for a transatlantic voyage to raise awareness of multiple sclerosis.

Jesu Ah'so and David Jesse are sailing to California in their sloop Enid Elizabeth to meet with David's uncle Charles Fox, who is a former journalist who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis 30 years ago.

Jesu and David, who are originally from Somerset, brought their boat to Portland from Chichester last May. It has undergone crucial work to prepare for the trip of a lifetime.

Mr Jesse, 25, was employed as a cleaner at the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy last summer and as a carer in Taunton over the winter.

He has tried to save money for essential upgrades so their vessel can cope with Atlantic conditions.

Mr Jesse said: "We have pretty moderate experience at sailing but we are quite keen and determined as this is all about raising awareness for MS."

The boat is in the yard of the sailing academy, where shipwright Tim Clark is working on her.

Mr Ah'so, 63, said: "At the moment we are waiting for Tim to get the copper coat on her and we are at the mercy of the weather.

"Paul Cobb, a qualified RYA yachtmaster, is flying over from West Cork on July 4 with the intention of skippering us across to West Cork, so that we may continue to learn.

"He's got a lot of knowledge of the sea and making long voyages.

"We're looking at making the trip first to the Azores then across to the West Indies within the space of two years.

"We'll then head up through the Panama Canal and up to the west coast of America."

The pair will be spurred on by the prospect of a reunion with Mr Fox, who lives in Bolinas, California.

Mr Ah'so said: "He's had MS for about 30 years and is now totally paralysed from the neck down, he can't even scratch his nose.

"But a lot of people don't realise that with MS you don't lose your mental faculties.

"Though it can lay to waste the body's physical co-ordination, it has not been able to lay waste to a fine mind, nor a loving heart."

Mr Ah'so added: "We would like to thank Paul and Sandra Gollop, from the national sailing academy, for all their help and understanding, Tim Clark for his assistance and advice, Andy Gordon, the St George's Centre Portland Heights rigger, and sailmaker Steve."