This summer I will attempt to circumnavigate mainland Britain by surfski. Note attempt. Just getting around is going to be a massive challenge.

2000 miles, 100km open ocean crossings, the world’s strongest tides, busy shipping lanes, the famous British weather, and of course, type 1 diabetes.

But unlike my last adventure, the focus on this expedition will be going fast. I want to push myself, find my limits, and fulfill my potential.

When met with a challenge you need a target. How else do you trick the brain into carrying on kayaking after a long day, when you’re tired, hungry, blistered and cold? So my target is to kayak around mainland Britain in less than 50 days. To say this is ambitious is an understatement. The current record stands at 67 days, set by Joe Leach in 2012.

“It is better to aim high and miss than to aim low and hit.”

 Les Brown

Ultimately, the weather Gods will have the final say in how the lap takes. If we get a British summer of old, I may still be paddling by Christmas. So focusing on 50 days would be setting myself up for failure. As the Stoic’s say, there is no point worrying about things out of my control – all I can do is try.

If I succeed with this challenge I will become the first person with type 1 diabetes to paddle around Britain, and I will be fundraising for Action4Diabetes here :

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/dougals-epic-adventure-a4d

And whatever happens, this trip will be an epic adventure. I’m looking forward to exploring the wonderfully varied coastline of my own country and meeting folk along the way.