As part of a world record breaking attempt to circumnavigate Great Britain on a paddleboard, adventurer Jordan Wylie, who took part in Channel 4’s Hunted TV programme, has stopped off in Swanage.
He left Boscombe Pier this morning Tuesday, 11th August 2020 and paddleboarded along the coast, across the mouth of Poole Harbour, around Studland Bay and then headed towards Swanage Pier, finishing at the beach next to the Swanage Sailing Club.
Jordan Wylie and his team aim to rest and recuperate in the town before heading off tomorrow along the Jurassic Coast towards Lulworth and Weymouth.
Jordan Wylie arriving in Swanage after completing the Boscombe to Swanage leg of his challenge
Guinness World Record attempt
The challenge called ‘The Great British Paddle’ began in Essex on Sunday 26th July 2020 and is expected to take several months, as he continues his Guinness World Record attempt round the coast of Wales and Scotland, before finishing back in Essex.
Speaking to Swanage.News, Jordan Wylie explained:
“I started off in Essex, 17 days ago. I came down past Dover, Ramsgate, Brighton, Bournemouth and now I’m here in beautiful Swanage. I can’t lie – Swanage hasn’t been on my radar to visit before, but I’m very happy to be here, especially on a glorious day like today. It’s beautiful and the people have been lovely and welcoming, which is nice.”
Served in the British Army for ten years
Jordan Wylie served in the British Army for ten years, which took him to some of the world’s most dangerous regions including East Africa. Passionate about inspiring young people, he’s using his latest adventure to raise money for the charity Frontline Children.
Children displaced by conflicts in Yemen and Somalia
The funds will go towards building a school for refugees in the Horn of Africa region for children displaced by conflicts in Yemen and Somalia. He hopes The Great British Paddle will contribute towards his £100,000 target. He said:
“Children for me are the biggest victims of war and conflict – and what I’ve found over the years is that education is the one thing that can really inspire hope in the world. It’s something that is really important and something that I’m passionate about.”
“I was supposed to run 10 marathons in the 10 coldest parts on Earth”
At the beginning of the year, Jordan wasn’t expecting to be enjoying the Swanage mini heatwave in August. He’d planned to be in the coldest regions of the world but like everyone, his plans came to a grinding halt caused by the coronavirus pandemic. He said:
“I’m an adventurer by trade and I was supposed to run 10 marathons in the 10 coldest parts on Earth this year. So in January I went to Alaska, the Yukon and Iceland. I was on my way to the North Pole, randomly, when we went into COVID lockdown, so I came up with The Great British Paddle – a world record attempt to paddleboard around the whole of Great Britain.
“It’s been attempted several times but no one has been successful yet, so I thought I would give it a go and hopefully raise lots of funds and awareness for a great cause along the way!”
Safety equipment includes a VHF radio, two tracking systems, buoyancy aid, mobile phone and flares
“I’m very well equipped”
“I have lots of safety precautions in place. I’m very well equipped and I do a risk assessment every day. I’m looking at tides, wind and weather conditions on the water. So I speak with the RNLI, who do an incredible job, the coastguard and port authorities – so lots of risks are being managed.
“That’s an important message from me as well, because there are lots of people who are new to paddleboarding, who have taken to the water in the last three months and are reconnecting with nature. So safety is a really important message, especially for young people.”
To donate to Frontline Children and to support The Great British Paddle
For further information
To find out more about the challenge and to track Jordan Wylie’s progress visit the website
