HMS Endurance Kayak Team Blog

26th February
During my return paddle to the ship I had mixed feelings. In the one hand it was good to know that I was going to be able to get a hot shower and sleep in comfort and on the other hand, I knew that our time on the water was coming to an end which saddened me deeply. We were warmly welcomed by many of the Ship’s Company including Captain Tarrent who I think was relieved we arrived in one piece and without injury.

The days I spent with the team on the water and on the moving ice were just amazing and I will treasure for a long time. The team were fantastic and worked well together and without their dedication and commitment 66 SOUTH could never have happened. Though there were some disagreements at times, strong friendships were forged which I am sure will never fade.

I am personally a little sad we did not achieve our aim to circumnavigate James Ross Island but no matter how much you prepare; operational commitments will always prevail. Nature also played its part. The ice concentration to the south and west of James Ross Island was so great that a circumnavigation attempt was prohibitive on this occasion because of the limited time we had available. We ended up having only one week instead of the full three weeks. Given the time I am confident the team could have achieved our aims. In fact, in six days we were close to paddling the same distance as it would have been around James Ross Island! Who knows, perhaps I will be encouraged to return for another attempt in the future.

The weather on the first two days of being on the water was stupendous and we made good distance. However, the weather around Antarctica will always bite back and by the forth day we were snowed in for 36 hours with gale force winds, but it did not bother us too much. The personal equipment we had was top line and was more than capable for the job in hand. Our kit had been inspected by a Royal Marine DSM (Detachment Sergeant Major) Mountain Leader 1st class and he recommended we took a pair of snow goggles each and extra snow shovels between the groups which we did.

Our daily routines proved to work well with the Ship’s programme. The 24 hour ration packs were very adequate for the job and having a mixed menu was very welcome.

Even though we paddled between seven and eleven hours I felt pretty strong on the water. I spent a good deal of time concentrating on my technique, which I feel has improved a great deal. There was only one time that I felt a little drained. But after a short stop for refreshments all was well again.

We then proceeded to paddled about 13 nautical miles over open seas which seemed to fly by. After paddling for so long you certainly sleep well despite any discomfort you may be feeling.

On a personal note, I would like to sincerely thank all those individuals and organisations, including friends and family who helped make 66 SOUTH a reality, of which there is many. I also want to give my gratitude to Captain Tarrent for allowing ENDURANCE KAYAK to happen under his command. Knowing that HMS ENDURANCE was keeping a watchful eye over us was comforting, I must say.

I also want to give thanks to Rear Admiral Ibbotson, Naval Secretary for being our Patron and who sent us his best wishes before commencing our expedition. The letter we received from him lifted our moral enormously.

When I look from the ship and see the stunning scenery all around; I want to just drop in the water with my kayak and paddle. Antarctica is a special place for me and I am deeply thankful to have experienced its natural beauty which touches me every time.

I hope by sharing my thoughts, it will inspire individuals to take up kayaking or other outdoor disciplines. To me physical and mental challenges are far more stimulating and rewarding than sitting at home watching TV and playing computer games which I feel takes away an individual’s initiative and competitive edge.

The world is a big place with lots of cultures which are worth experiencing if you find the time and energy.

If ever I have a family of my own I would happily share these amazing experiences with them…

Endurance Kayak