Circumnavigation of Great Britain complete!
2,540 Miles in 80 Days
On May 6th, 2010 I set out from Skegness, on the East Coast of Great Britain, to attempt to circumnavigate Great Britain. Since 2005, all attempts to do so ended unsuccessful, mainly due to bad weather and unfavorable winds.
Today, Sunday, July 25th, 2010 I am happy to be back in Skegness, becoming the 13th kayaker to successfully circumnavigate Great Britain. I paddled most of the 2,468 Miles and 80 days in fair weather, except on the East Coast, where the winds seemed to be from the South exclusively, which created both a fair amount of headwinds (due to the clockwise nature of the circumnavigation), and some cursing during the last 600 Miles.
It has been a long trip, the distance equally to going 4 times around the Falklands Islands, 2 1/2 times around Ireland, or paddling 88 times the 28 Mile loop around Manhattan.
The circumnavigation should be the fastest solo circumnavigation of the UK, and overall tying the previous 80-day record of the kayak trio consisting of Barry Shaw, Phil Clegg, and Harry Wheeler in 2005. The 2nd fastest circumnavigation of the UK was completed in 87 days by Nigel Dennis and Paul Caffyn in 1980.
More updates, trip stats, and photos soon here after I retrieved the photos from my water-logged camera.
My warmest THANK YOUs to all the kind British, Welsh and Scotch people who helped me during this trip. More than on any other trip, people opened their homes and whiskey vaults for me during my almost 3 months around the British Isles.
A huge and special Thank You to Peter Orton at Valley for all the logistical support, to Lisa and Marta at Kokatat, and to Barry Shaw, Justine Curgenven, and Phil Clegg for their help before during and after the expedition. The 6 of you totally rule!!!
What's so funny in the day hatch? Mid trip stop in Anglesey. Photo: Barry Shaw
Tierra Del Fuego Expedition Article in upcoming Issue of Ocean Paddler Magazine
In issue #20 of Ocean Paddler Magazine, available April 2010. Please click here to read Marcus' article about his circumnavigation of the Falklands Islands in Jan of 2009, as published in Ocean Paddler Magazine's current issue #15.
To view the pics of either trip, please visit the Photos link above.