Kayakers rest on North Rona before final leg to Durness
THE two extreme kayakers who were set to make landfall in Sutherland yesterday at the end of an epic 1200 mile journey from Iceland to Scotland, are currently resting on North Rona.
It is likely to be a few days now until they attempt to finish their journey.
British adventurers Olly Hicks and George Bullard are facing a food shortage as they await their final effort to Durness.
They had around 16,000 calories of food packs and 16 litres of water left on the boat when they made land on Monday.. They want to save 8000 calories of food and 8 litres of water for the final leg. This doesn't leave them with much in the meantime.
There is a hut on North Rona with a few basic supplies, (including whisky), and tthere is also a water butt collecting rainwater and a well with water in it for them to drink. They also have a fishing line, and a lot of time.
Their support team say they are working on finding boats that are passing North Rona with the possibility of getting more supplies. But with the tourist season over and bad weather there are none around it says on their blog.
“The fact that it is very hard to land a boat on we are not having much luck. There has been word of some Guga hunters on Sula Sgeir, the neighbouring island 10 miles away which we are exploring, however they may have gone back to Lewis and Harris before the weather got bad.
“The boys are both hugely practical and very good at scavenging so we are confident they will be fine, however we'd also feel a lot better if they had a bit more grub to tide them over! They are no doubt having a lovely time going a bit feral!”
The duo spent four years preparing to make the world’s first documented crossing by kayak between the two countries.
They were inspired to take up the monumental challenge after hearing a legend about a similar journey made centuries ago by a mysterious group called the “Finnmen”.
A report exists of a man who spoke in an “unintelligible language” making land in Scotland.
They set off on July 1 in a 6.8m carbon fibre duo sea kayak which has special sleeping and storage compartments.
They have been paddling for a minimum 20 hours a day and have spent 12 nights at sea.
