Interview:
Sarah Thornely

Photos:
Alfie Marsh
www.alfiemarsh.com
Rhianna Ward &
Amy Richards

Sarah’s bio

Sarah’s love of SUP brought her to running SUPJunkie, covering UK and worldwide races through live feeds and interviews.

Sarah is a qualified instructor with the ASI and British Canoeing and still gets great pleasure in getting complete beginners on the water. Sarah writes for SUP Mag UK and the Paddler, and does a lot work to support the GBSUP race series as well as paddlers who are participating in adventures and challenges for charity. https://www.supjunkie.co.uk

Chatting with Jordan Wylie and Dawn Aldred

Two years ago, we followed the incredible adventures of Hunted and Celebrity Hunted’s very own Jordan Wylie on his attempt to circumnavigate Great Britain by SUP. Having paddled for 149 days, 7 hours, and 36 minutes covering 2,377.29 km, his efforts were halted just shy of John O’Groats when the Scottish Government deemed it unsafe for Jordan and his crew to continue due to the Covid pandemic. We were never in doubt that this reasonably new ‘non-paddler’ would have succeeded in his quest and covered his story in a thrilling three-part diary here in the Paddler.

Following Jordan’s recent year-long hiatus from social media platforms, we were lucky enough to catch up with him in an online interview where we spoke not only about the good, the bad, and the ugly of social media but his forthcoming trip to Djibouti. For those unaware of Jordan’s promise and mission, his paddling efforts were to raise money to build a school in the Horn of Africa, which has been his driver for a good few years. Let’s catch up with Jordan’s news:

Jordan – welcome home! Can you first let us know what happened after you were pulled off the water in John O’Groats and, over the next few weeks, to finish raising money for the school in Djibouti?
As most of the world knows, we were pulled off the water a day before Christmas Eve in 2020 after Scotland went into its highest level of lockdown during the pandemic. Unfortunately, this was a situation that was out of our hands. Even though we could have paddled one more day and set a new world record and world first (Lands’ End to John O’Groats via the ocean route), we made a collective decision as a team that it was the right thing to do to stop at that moment for several reasons:

1. We had the world’s eyes watching, so we felt it was essential to lead by example and do the right thing.
2. It would help us maximise the fundraising opportunity post-expedition.
3. It also meant that all team members could head home to our families for Christmas, which was my favourite part of finishing abruptly!

Can you tell us about your book, The Power of the Paddle, written after The Great British Paddle?
The Power of the Paddle is a book that tells the story of the reason I went on this epic paddle journey. Although I am a bit biased, of course, I think it’s the best book I have written mainly because of the purpose of this adventure. I hope the book shows people how a big dream, passion, and purpose combined with an adventure and great people can make life-changing things happen. The book has been very well received, and I was blown away by it making the Sunday Times Top 10 list in its first week of publication. I love writing and expressing my thoughts and experiences through my books, and this one is special to me.

Having now finished the school build, presumably the running costs will continue – is that the reason for the recent trip with paying guests to visit the school?
The school built in Djibouti was a rollercoaster adventure itself to complete. If I am honest, I would never take on a charity project of this size again, it was challenging work, consumed most of my life for several years, and added a lot of stress to family life, but WE DID IT! The CEO of Frontline Children has now handed over the school to the Djibouti Government Ministry of Education. Although we don’t have to raise any more funds, we have pledged to host a fundraising trip each year to visit the school, which will help fund new educational resources, ensure the grounds are well maintained, and allow for continued professional development of the teachers too.

What were your thoughts and ideas for this trip, and what did you want clients to get out of it?
We have just returned from the first trip, which I called the adventure ‘Terres des Extremes’, French for Land of Extremes. Djibouti is a former French colony and one of the least visited countries on the planet and one of the hottest. It is home to the lowest place in Africa, home to the Whale Shark, and also home to one of the most saline lakes on earth – it is an extreme environment, and the conditions for children out in the desert are tough. I wanted the expedition team members to get a real flavour of the country and its incredible deserts primed for adventure. I also wanted them to challenge themselves, overcome their fears, and step out of their comfort zones, which they all certainly did in abundance. Ultimately, this trip was about visiting the school we built, volunteering, helping inspire the students, and positively impacting all the communities we encountered in the Horn of Africa.

Can you describe it to those who have never been to this part of the world?
Djibouti is a magical place like nowhere else on earth; not many people in the UK could point it out on a map or tell you where it is, making it even more special. The landscape of Djibouti is varied and extreme, ranging from rugged mountains in the north to a series of low desert plains separated by parallel plateaus in the west and south. Djibouti is very small and strategically located on the northeast coast of the Horn of Africa, and it is situated on the Bab El Mandeb Strait, which lies to the east and separates the Red Sea from the Gulf of Aden. This is also the area that I rowed across in 2019.

One of the paddlers who joined you on this trip was Dawn Aldred – she was an enthusiastic follower of The Great British Paddle, and we met in Teignmouth – it’s quite a funny story, so can you remind us about it?
It was a funny story indeed! I had never met Dawn before until we were introduced at our good friend Brendon Prince’s film premier in Teignmouth. After the film, a few of us went for drinks (including you!), and Dawn was made aware of the Terres des Extremes; she told me all the things she was scared of (including falling in water), so I joked and suggested she could come Whale Shark diving and snorkelling with me. We were in a local Wetherspoons at this point, and she was, as were we all, a few gin and tonics in, and she told me she was signing up! I told her I would text her and ask her when she sobered up! I texted her the next day, and she reminded me she was a woman of her word, tipsy or not! The rest was history, as they say.

How did Dawn particularly cope with this trip?
Dawn was BRILLIANT! She was a team player from the outset and overcame many of her fears during this trip. There were moments when Dawn was apprehensive, of course, but with patience and guidance, she smashed through many of her adventure goals on this expedition. Dawn’s a great woman with a big heart, and the children of Djibouti loved her positive attitude and enthusiasm; she has real positive energy and is a hard worker too, never afraid to get her hands dirty and chip in whenever needed. It was a genuine privilege to have Dawn on this trip, and I hope this will be the start of many more epic adventures for her.

Was this the first time you had led a trip of this kind?
I have led many expeditions, usually for adventurers or military personnel. Our group was very diverse, with different experiences, fitness levels, interests, and objectives they wanted to achieve from the trip. I learned a lot about myself and managing people from the expedition; the expedition will improve year after year.

Did you pack a paddleboard, and did you use it? Have you paddled since getting off the water in John O’Groats?
I had my first paddle in two years (on a SUP) in Djibouti; some ladies told me I must bring a paddleboard, so I ensured it was included in my excess baggage. It was amazing to get back on it for an hour or so, especially in such an ‘unpaddled’ part of the world, the Horn of Africa! It was like I had never been off it; I certainly won’t be leaving it as long next time.

What encouragement did you give the guests leading up to the trip – did they need a certain level of fitness, for example? Were they asked to take any special items out for the children?
We had a great group that was a pleasure to work with on this adventure. I can’t fault any of them; they all did their best to make a difference in the lives of children less fortunate. Everyone was taken outside their comfort zones (some more than others) and will have grown as people hugely from the experience. All the team brought gifts, educational resources, uniforms, letters, stationery, and other items that helped improve the children’s lives. We recommend that everyone has a basic fitness level and understands that it’s an extreme environment, and we manage the risks accordingly. It was necessary, though, that they all understood that this wasn’t a holiday; it was an expedition!

I guess the most important part of the trip was the school visit – can you tell us more about that and how the children were?
The children were amazing; seeing their smiles and voices again was very special, and you can’t help but be moved and emotional by the experience. I’m sure everyone who joined me on this trip will agree too. What I enjoyed most about the school visit was seeing the team interacting with the children and doing their best to help them. Many team members have already initiated their projects to help the school; one lady is heading up a project to build an IT room and extra classroom for students, so I am sure we will hear more about that in the coming months.

What are your lasting impressions of what SUP has given you personally over these last few years?
SUP has given me some of the greatest life lessons I have discovered. It has allowed me to manage my mental and physical health better; it helped me understand the purpose in its strongest form; it has taught me resilience, teamwork, community spirit, and much more. I have also met some incredibly inspiring people through the sport and friends for life. The SUP community, including the brands, the people, the water, and the therapy it offers, will always have a special place in my heart. I will continue to encourage as many people as possible to get involved.

Now let’s hear from Dawn Aldred about her experience of this trip…

Dawn – how long have you been Stand Up Paddleboarding?
Three years. I’m a fair-weather, calm-water paddler and don’t like getting wet. I get enjoyment from and take pride in litter-picking the waterways.

Would you see yourself as an adventurous person?
I like to challenge myself, but I don’t consider myself very adventurous; that’s measured by who you or I might consider adventurous. My friends believe I am, but compared to the people I follow, admire, and am inspired by, I don’t think I am.

You were a big supporter of Jordan when he was on his Great British Paddle challenge – when and how did you get to meet him?
I met Jordan one evening after travelling to the south coast to watch the first showing of ‘Circumnavigate,’ the beautiful film of Brendan Prince’s World record achievement – stand-up paddleboarding around mainland Britain.

You signed up for this adventure spontaneously, so how did you feel in the months leading up to the trip? Were you nervous/excited?
Ah yes, this was a knee-jerk reaction to signing up for this adventure, so I’d not asked any questions about what it entailed. I knew we’d be taking well-needed supplies to the school, and I had yet to get a clue about the adventures planned while we were in Djibouti.

What did you do to prepare yourself for this trip?
Once Jordan had sent me the itinerary, I had eight months to prepare for the trip. I’d planned to start running again, eat healthily, get more sleep and have a great bikini body ready for that stay on the boat. None of that happened. I went out there knowing I’d have to wing it, and I did!

What did you take over extra for the children?
Several of us took extra baggage allowance, and I filled my extra 100-litre bag with pens, toothbrushes, toothpaste, tiny teddy bears for the little ones, and bras for the women. A woman seen to be wearing supportive clothing is less likely to be treated disrespectfully. I collected bras from friends, family, and the local community and took them to the village.

How was your time visiting the school, and what did you do there?
Visiting the school was emotional. Just thinking of how it came about with a promise Jordan Wylie made to a little boy in a village, four hours’ drive from the city.  Seeing that the children now have a place to go to learn was very emotional. The parents came to meet us and thank us for our support, which was very humbling.

The children were so happy, though a little overwhelmed by everything we, as a group, had taken out for them.  We taught music, oral hygiene, and arts and crafts and painted the school to brighten it up for them and help preserve the structure from the immense heat.

What were your other highlights from the trip?
How long have you got? Seriously, I’ve not been able to process it all yet. It was an incredible trip, and I’m grateful to have been a part. So, here are some of them; sleeping on deck in the boat. I learned so much about the incredible Neem Farm we stayed on. I planted a tree in my mum and dad’s memory. They made me who I am; if it wasn’t for who they were, I might not have signed up for this adventure.

Spending time bonding (which wasn’t always easy) with the others on the trip – witnessing extreme poverty and wealth in such close proximity (not in miles but in the people). Beautiful people, all of them.

Did you paddleboard while you were there?
YES! Wow. I was sitting on the deck looking at the moon at 05:45 and Jordan asked me if I wanted to go out on his board. How could I not make myself go out on Jordan Wylie’s board?

Well, for starters, I have a phobia of the sides of ships/boats, and then there was the fact it was dark! So, I put my big girl’s pants on and pulled on my t-shirt. I have a memory of a young man called Jack Bannister, who tragically died at age 15. I wear that shirt when I’m scared, knowing he’d tell me to ‘just do it.’

I shuffled down the boat’s steps in the dark, shaking, almost crying – and I got onto the board.

That was it. I was on the sea, in Djibouti, on Mr Wylie’s board at 05:50 because Jordan said he could get some lovely photos of me padding in the moon’s reflection. If I timed it right, the sun would rise over the mountains as I came to the other side of the boat, making another great photo shoot. It was just fantastic.

I paddled to a tiny beach where I collected a couple of shells before paddling back as the sun rose, incredible!

What would you say to others sitting on the fence about a BIG adventure?
Just GO, as you too, could experience something like this! Whale Sharks; snorkelling; scuba diving; sand buggies; the Neem Farm; the school and local community; camels; nomads; lifelong friends to make, and so much to see and learn.

So, Jordan may have stepped off his board for a little while, but he’s been extremely busy after The Great British Paddle with his promise to build a school in Djibouti – I’d like to thank Jordan for his friendship and support of SUPjunkie personally and always being there for a chat or interview and also Dawn for agreeing to be a part of this story – the memory of drinking in Wetherspoons with them both and watching this great adventure unfold for Dawn will always be an inspirational one for me.

Jordan has been recognised by the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) for his outstanding contribution to charity and children’s education on the Horn of Africa, and was awarded an MBE in the New Year’s Honours.