Challenges

Pledge money for challenges across the Irish Sea.

1. Clap hands like a seal - £20 Jen

2. Wear a wig - (Afro,Blonde Curls or Red) - £20 Jules

3. Rock paper sissors (loser puts red lip stick on lips) - £20 Ross

4. Sing Row Row Row your boat - £20 Mel

All these challenges will be done half way across the Irish Sea and video evidence to prove it. Please dig deep in your pockets and pledge money for one of these and if you think of any other reasonable challenges in a kayak please let us know.

Agent Fudge MI6 involved in another close shave!

Gary aka Actionman and Agent Fudge part of the support team. Agent Fudge was given to Actionman by Angela Evans 'Angie' before she sadly passed away last year of Cancer. Angie was fun loving, outgoing and the life and soul of the party! Angie's dying wish was that Agent Fudge be assigned international operations with Actionman. All photo intel to be shared with all of her friends. Agent Fudge becomes an ambassador of Angie's entourage and has already spun the globe. Agent fudge has requested a 'special op' to accompany Agent Splashdown on his epic voyage across the Irish Sea. A requisition for specialist equipment has been channeled through Q department for authorisation. Actionman has sanctioned his co-operation.
In an effort to disguise his ID from certain southern Irish operators Actionman accompanied him to a local hair stylist. SHAN from Image alteration dept (A5) was tasked with preparing Fudge for this mission. SHAN very kindly donated her normal fee in favour of our charity. Many thanks! Full sit rep to follow........message ends

Sponsorship from Ocean Safety

I had the pleasure of meeting Claire from Ocean Safety and it was like Christmas. Ocean safety has supplied us with their latest product of personal safety flares specifically designed for Kayakers. A cracking piece of kit if I may say so. They also provided us with other flares, smoke and personal buoyancy aid lights! I cannot thank them enough and looking at the photo above they certainly know their business. I hope we don't need to use the flares but I am confident we will be seen if we need to be. Thanks for your support and for looking after us!

Safety Flares, smoke and personal lighting

Helping hand from Cotswold Belfast

Due to inclement wind (nothing I have eaten!) our trip is on hold with copious amounts of time spent checking weather charts, looking for a decent break. This has its own pitfalls and I found myself drifting towards my feminine side and retail therapy kicked in. Having seen the Garmin 60CSx in action with Baz who is pleased with his purchase, I have fallen into the trap of boys and toys and made my way to Cotswold Outdoor Belfast where I was lucky to meet Lyle who was very helpful and informative about the product. On consultation with his boss and my bank manager I am now the proud owner of a Garmin. I hope this bad weather holds so I can learn how to use it!

Sponsorship on the kayak.

Thanks to Chris from Garmin and Russ from Wareham Boat Hire. Stickers placed on my kayak ready to go!

Lift off or we hope so

James has left already and arrived in Anglesey. He has touched base with the Coastguard and they were pleased that he did as he gave an up to date sit rep. The weather is not in our favour as it is blowing SW and 23 mph winds which is a force 5 on the Beaufort scale! Not pleasant.



The forecast is for 29 mph winds tomorrow at 1000 hours again from the south west! I think a drive up and sup a few coffees with my pal Moose will be in order praying to Neptune that the weather and sea's will turn to our favour!

It is disappointing when you plan things and the weather looks unfavourable but we will keep our fingers crossed! If we don't go then as Arnie said, " I'll be back!"

Just to let you know we will be looking for an E/NE or SE for the crossing. SW is pretty much the worse one for us regarding wind direction.

Event Sponsorship by GARMIN world leaders in global positioning systems

Garmin offices in Southampton

James and I had the pleasure of meeting Chris Boyle from their Marine Product and Marketing Management. At very short notice Chris managed to arrange the loan of marine mapping software for my Garmin GPSmap60CSx. This software will prove invaluable on our trip providing details of up to date chart information. We cannot thank Chris and Garmin enough. Like we said Chris if you ever need some sea kayakers for product testing let us know!!

Chris Boyle and Barry outside Garmin's UK offices exchanging the sponsored marine software

James outside Garmin offices Southampton