ThePaddler 6
Ethos winner
Neil Legg from Dorset was the very happy winner of the Wave Sport Ethos. Neil received his kayak from competition sponsors Perception UK last week. Happy paddling!
Ready for registrations
Northern Forest Explorers, the signature youth program of the Northern Forest Canoe Trail (NFCT), has announced its summer trip schedule which provides week-long canoe and kayak trips for local youth.
Beginning in June, ten trips will take place in the four states of the NFCT: New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. There are 125 available spots for youth, ages 10–14, from communities along the trail that will be given an opportunity to take part in these trips. Participants learn basic paddling and outdoor skills, environmental and ecological relationships, and the fundamentals of leadership. Children of family members serving in the Vermont National Guard will also have a dedicated trip of their own.
Trips are guided by local outfitters that include Mac’s Canoe Livery in New York; Montgomery Adventures, Northwoods Stewardship Center and Siskin Ecological Adventures in Vermont; Great Glenn Outfitters in New Hampshire; and Adventure Bound and Chain of Lakes Guide Service in Maine. Paddling gear, camping equipment and food are supplied.
Participation fees are based on a sliding scale and no deserving child will be left behind; financial aid is available. Space is limited. Applications are due June 1 and are available by contacting Youth Program Director Roger Poor at (603) 801-9597, Roger@northernforestcanoetrail.org, or online at www.northernforestcanoetrail.org and www.northernforestexplorers.org
The idea of a circumnavigation of mainland UK had been on our minds for a while. In May 2010 we were paddling around the Isle of Wight with Philippa and Jo and the subject of the ‘Around Britain’ came up – as it had done on numerous occasions before. The girls called our bluff, “we’ll support you” they offered – “unless of course you’re not really up for it!” – we were committed! Our initial approach was quite naïve. We could just paddle around the coast; break no records; enjoy the scenery; we could just ‘chill’. Our thought that raising funds for charity and completing a series of beachcleans would actually provide a welcome diversion to the otherwise dreary routine of paddling. That was until we bothered first to look at John Willacy’s website www.performanceseakayak.co.uk
“The limited number of paddlers to complete this trip shows just what a major undertaking it is. The UK circumnavigator has to contend with committing coastline, demanding tidal flows, busy shipping lanes and challenging weather. It is no surprise that many have had to return to daily life without quite completing the full distance, often after being delayed by the weather. To complete is an impressive achievement whatever the route or the timescale involved.”
Then we looked at the road atlas and marked out 30-mile sections thinking “we’ll never average 30-miles a day but let’s just see…” We got to day 82 before arriving back to Totnes – blimey! Soon realizing that at our planned ‘leisurely’ pace was going to take all summer!
Since then our plans have developed; we have teamed up with Clic Sargent and The Marine Conservation Society both to raise funds and to raise awareness; we’ve blocked three months out of our diaries and we’ve ordered the fastest boats we could get hold of, Rockpool Tarans, not to break records but more to stack the odds in our favour as much as possible!
Pledge whatever you can afford through our website. All donations go to Clic Sargent and MCS. Follow us throughout our adventure by following us on www.aroundbritain 4britain.co.uk/