YEAR 2011 - TRYING TO BRAKE THE RECORD (23 days)
OF PADDLING AROUND DANMARK
1200KM ON FULL POWER ! !
Click here to se a map of the trip
17.07.2011 Resumé of my attempt
Many thoughts have circulatet around in my head since I stopped, my record attempt because of the two broken paddles. I have received many greetings, in the days that have passed from people who have been following my trip through my website. These greetings have been encouraging and sobering - many thanks to you all.
Some think it's unfair that the rules are as they are, I can well understand that people think in that way, there will always be like that when rules must be so versatile. However, I haven´t even doubted that it was a "right" decicion that I made, in a relation to the rules to stop. The rules say that things like paddle, boat, gps, etc. can only be replaced with outside help if they are stolen see here .....
RED WHITE BAND RULES: The trip must be made in a kayak as a one continous trip. This means all equipment, including supplies and maps must be carried by the paddler himself. Of course it is permissible to buy new supplies and tank water along the way. Should the kayak be stolen during the trip, a new kayak, however can be supplied with a help from outside. Same goes for safety equipment such as paddle, life jacket, compass and the like. Any repairs must be made by rower himself.
I allowed myself to buy me a new paddle when my first paddle broke, this action imediatly puts me in a "greyzone" - I could risk not getting the trip approved afterwards. By purchasing a third paddle, when no paddle have been stolen, I thought it would be too much. Therefore there was nothing else to do in the situation, regadless off how hard and painful it was, to stop the attempt in this way.
What have I learned? ? ? My preparations have been correct, at least on the physically I was completely ready, training in such large waves as the Danish coast offers, I can not accomplish in Alssund, so wave training I lacked. To be sleeping in a tent in as many days, was also new to me, but it took barely a week to get used to it - along with keeping track of all the equipment on board the long and narrow kayak.
I´m left with the feeling of a unfinished project, the groundwork needed to make the project complete have been strengthened significantly, I've also got an eye on, where there is room to improve. To all the people who helped me to reach at least this point, I would like to say thanks, I want also to thank my sponsors for their great support, my record attempt is not over yet ....
Some think it's unfair that the rules are as they are, I can well understand that people think in that way, there will always be like that when rules must be so versatile. However, I haven´t even doubted that it was a "right" decicion that I made, in a relation to the rules to stop. The rules say that things like paddle, boat, gps, etc. can only be replaced with outside help if they are stolen see here .....
RED WHITE BAND RULES: The trip must be made in a kayak as a one continous trip. This means all equipment, including supplies and maps must be carried by the paddler himself. Of course it is permissible to buy new supplies and tank water along the way. Should the kayak be stolen during the trip, a new kayak, however can be supplied with a help from outside. Same goes for safety equipment such as paddle, life jacket, compass and the like. Any repairs must be made by rower himself.
I allowed myself to buy me a new paddle when my first paddle broke, this action imediatly puts me in a "greyzone" - I could risk not getting the trip approved afterwards. By purchasing a third paddle, when no paddle have been stolen, I thought it would be too much. Therefore there was nothing else to do in the situation, regadless off how hard and painful it was, to stop the attempt in this way.
What have I learned? ? ? My preparations have been correct, at least on the physically I was completely ready, training in such large waves as the Danish coast offers, I can not accomplish in Alssund, so wave training I lacked. To be sleeping in a tent in as many days, was also new to me, but it took barely a week to get used to it - along with keeping track of all the equipment on board the long and narrow kayak.
I´m left with the feeling of a unfinished project, the groundwork needed to make the project complete have been strengthened significantly, I've also got an eye on, where there is room to improve. To all the people who helped me to reach at least this point, I would like to say thanks, I want also to thank my sponsors for their great support, my record attempt is not over yet ....
14.07.2011 - 15.07.2011 Day 10 a day of disaster !!!!
After a long awaited rest day, I had to start again, the weather was not quite in top, with a wind blowing from the east at 8 m / sec + to start with, and later in the day there would be some rain. In the area south of Sæby the first 200 -1000m, from the shoreline is very shallow and therefore the surf starts far out, it was impossible for me to get far enough out to be in good position to tackle the waves. But after about 15km, the wind went more to the north-east, which enabled me to be far enough away to get decent speed in the boat. By Voerså I was able to come ashore beside the two piers that form the entrance to their harbor. As usual I try to ride gently through the surf but the waves were quite high and pushed really me and the Polar Bear relly hard from behind, then came a bigger one, I tried to slow down, as the bear starts to turn left - and then I hear a "CRACKING - SOUND" fortunately there were not many waves back to row through to get ashore - but my right paddle blade was broken! ! ! !
When my girlfriend Lene came to me the other day and we had packed the car, she pointed at my paddle and said that it was broken, "no it's only seaweed" I said, carbon paddles usually do not break. After closer look, I could only ascertain that it was broken, after talks with Kim from www.kanobyg.dk - there was a new paddle on the way. Iføgle reglesættet for "The Red White Ribbon" was this act that receive a paddle on a "gray" area when you need to complete the trip with the equipment to start with - only allowed to buy supplies along the way - if the boat breaks down you can buy a new one. When it today is the new paddle that is brooken ! ! ! ! Yes then it's over, most have a spare paddle with them mine lay at kanobyg ......
After all the hard struggle to reach this point, it is so sad that it is now over, I myself am deeply disappointed and sad. It is first Now it is possible that I can pull myself together to explain is happened.......
Tomorrow I will make a opsumering of the trip.
When my girlfriend Lene came to me the other day and we had packed the car, she pointed at my paddle and said that it was broken, "no it's only seaweed" I said, carbon paddles usually do not break. After closer look, I could only ascertain that it was broken, after talks with Kim from www.kanobyg.dk - there was a new paddle on the way. Iføgle reglesættet for "The Red White Ribbon" was this act that receive a paddle on a "gray" area when you need to complete the trip with the equipment to start with - only allowed to buy supplies along the way - if the boat breaks down you can buy a new one. When it today is the new paddle that is brooken ! ! ! ! Yes then it's over, most have a spare paddle with them mine lay at kanobyg ......
After all the hard struggle to reach this point, it is so sad that it is now over, I myself am deeply disappointed and sad. It is first Now it is possible that I can pull myself together to explain is happened.......
Tomorrow I will make a opsumering of the trip.
Pictures of the broken carbon paddles.......
13.07.2011 Day 9. ''Resting day''
Rest day, you can call it, my gas burner was broken, so I had to get a new one, a things like this can take time to find. Without one, no hot water, no hot food, but I found one. Tried to enjoy my lovely girlfriend's company as much as I could. Tried to close cracks around the hatches on the boat, hoping it works. Hoping for a long day tomorrow, heard a little from Thomas and Kolbe, who is blown in on the west coast, just north of Hirtshals sad sad sad ....
12.07.2011 Day 8. The first day on the East Coast, ONLY 50 km
If there was something I had been looking forward to,
then it was to be finished with the West coast, it became reality
yesterday, what a relied. Now I ccould enjoy rowing along the east
coast, but Wow, what a disappointment !!!!! Shallow waters, headwind,
hard work and today it blew 7-8m/sek from the west but anyway it felt
most of the day as a headwind. BUT The day also had its positive side,
all day long I looked forward to meeting my girlfriend Lene who was
coming for a visit. It was also the first day I paddled without back
pain - great relief. It was not so many miles today, sometimes I was
afraid to get a house number on the Polar bear, because the speed was
mostly about 5-8km per hour, a speed I think life is too short for. They
costed a lot of energy these 50km I reached today, but all the effort
will make the rest day of tomorrow even more deserved.
11.07.2011 Day 7. The trip around Skagen 53 km - leaving the West Coast
The day started out fine with no wind at all - well rested after a good night's sleep. Had
imagined tailwind all the way to Skagen - but it was not going to happen
- when I got allmost the same type of waves as yesterday. Came complete
waisted to the small village Old Skagen - made a long pause and tried
to find some overall strength for the rest of the trip around Skagen.
The last piece of the tip was really hard - it went fine to get around
Skagen, the most northern tip of Denmark - but then it became really
difficult because I had massive head wind which high waves as I paddled
past the port of Skagen - winds of over 10m./sek . - Not exactly what I
wanted or had hoped for.
Pictures taken when I´m leaving Hirtshals..... click on picture for a slideshow
10.07.2011 Day 6. The trip goes on - heading for Hirtshals 59 km.
MUST Reach Hirtshals - alpha omega for continuity - got phone call from Thomas and Kolbe at 16.00 - they were not able to row further in the strong wind, blowing in from west with 10 m/sec, and the big waves - they asked if I were going to continue - I ate 2 bags of dried fish - one for each of them and rowed out through the surf. Found a "spot" between the waves to lie in - between 2-3 reefs, it went okay - toppled in 4 times - washed ashore 2 times - but Hirtshals I just had get there. Was at the northern side of Hirtshals at 21.30 pm. The tour's toughest day so far.
Arriving at Hirtshals after a hard day..... click on picture for starting diasshow
09.07.2011 Day 5. From Klitmøller to a place close to Blokhus..... 69.1km
Had a really Miserable start on the day - got almost no sleep in Klitmøller - Crossed Hanstholm harbour - then went ashore to buy supplies. Continuing in a slow pace - the body does not find any pace today - got a lot of headwind after Hanstholm - BIG thunderstorm on the way to Little Beach(Lille Strand). Then a mixed weather, rain, sun and more rain. Finally late in the day it was starting to go well - struggled to reach 70 km. - But rolled the kajak at 69.1 km - which ended this day.
Click on pictures for text.......
08.07.2011 Day 4. 73 km. to Klitmøller
Paid a little of the bill for yesterday as I first got up at 06.30 - was out to rest an hour later. Reached Thyborøn after 3 1 / 2 hour in a pooring rain stopped at a Grill bar in Thyborøn until the worst rain was over. From there I went to Klitmøller with only a one stop. When I came to Klitmøller I started with, find someone who could wash my clothes - I was allowed to sleep on a lawn "beautiful" not having to sleep in the sand - looking forward to my day tomorrow. Yesterday was a bit of an rough day - so, today was all about "damage control" - rowed in very controlled pace listening to my body and going easy on my gear while in the North Sea bowed for me and the Polar bear.
07.07.2011 Day 3. Passed Hvide Sande - Thorsminde - now at Fjeltring
At Fjeltring
Started the day at. 06.00 - made 3 attempts to get out through the surf - eventually successful. First stop the harbor at Hvide Sande after 3 hours on the water - tanked water - met an elderly German couple Geoffrey and Doris + their dog Giny - which now loves dried fish. Doris made coffee and served "rugbrød" (blackbread) with honey "absolutely fantastic" - continued towards Thorsminde. Made one stop after 25 km. - got through the surf in my second attempt. Came to Thorsminde at 17.45 - had a little break - met Carsten and his wife who is also paddling around Denmark a double kajak. Paddled further and arrived when the clock was 20.00 to Fjeltring. Today I paddled 80 km. - been on for 14 hours.
Pictures from today......
06.07.2011 Day 2. from the north end of Fanø
The day went really well. Started by crossing from Fano to Skallingen. Said goodbye to Thomas and Kolbe. Rowed in high speed to Blåvandshug, then held a long pause. Rowed further towards Hvide Sande. Had to go to shore at. 17.00 o´clock because of Radio interview - DR P4, during the interview it started heavy thunder and lightning, so the day ended far to early with a "BANG". Have already packed the kayak now - and expect a long day tomorrow.
Pictures from today....
05.07.2011 Day 1. Leaving my love and Højer Sluse
A really tough day with many vain km. - Very low waters - a lot of towing the kayak. Got an unexpected company from Næstved - met Thomas and Kolbe - they are on the same trip around Denmark - without trying to brake the record tough.
Luckily the Wadden Sea is almost over after day one - have reached the northern point of Fano Island togeather with Thomas and Kolbe. Thanks to Kim Thorsted who came by wished me a good trip, helped with carrying the Polar Bear from the car - and took these pictures.
Luckily the Wadden Sea is almost over after day one - have reached the northern point of Fano Island togeather with Thomas and Kolbe. Thanks to Kim Thorsted who came by wished me a good trip, helped with carrying the Polar Bear from the car - and took these pictures.
Pictures from today.....
