By Dimitri Vandepoele
After my previous record back in 2015, I had no plans for a second attempt, however, for the past year, the sea began to call again. I waited together with a Spanish team for perfect weather but with no success. It was only this summer, after waiting a few months, that I saw an opportunity.
Second time around… North Sea crossing
I had also contact with Eddie and Jens, a German team that had the ambition to attempt to cross the North Sea. We shared information and knowledge and agreed to stay in contact and start together if possible. They would take the same route as I did in 2015.
We get together during the evening in Nieuwpoort Harbour on Wednesday, August 1st, 2018. Both the German team and myself had made practically the same navigational planning and we wished each other success – I must say that it was an honour to depart together with them. I said goodbye to my wife and children. My wife, Sylvie, is my support team and keeps contact with Oostende Radio on the Belgian side and the Dover Coastguard on the UK side, both of whom had been informed.
At 01.00 hours (local time), I started from the slipway at Nieuwpoort Harbour, Belgium with some light from the full moon. I started at a pace I could keep up for hours without stopping or resting. When I left the safety of the harbour, all the stress fell away, I felt alive! Although it was too dark to see anything, I knew my way around. This first part was a home run in my backyard so to speak. I chose to leave at that hour because of the tide, I wanted the stream against me during the first six hours along the Belgian coast where it’s less powerful than the UK side, where it’s almost double the speed.
I passed the Trapegeer buoy when the stream was still building up against me. Between there and the next buoy, the DY1, was a real battle. A battle against the tide and a shortage of sleep – I had to be alert for other ships that couldn’t see me. During the night I had only a force 2 headwind but I was relentlessly pushed back by the tidal stream and the wind during the very short breaks. One of the things I enjoyed most was the sunrise – where I took a very short break, so I could watch the sun rising.
international shipping lane
When finally arriving at the DY1 buoy it was almost slack water. Taking it easy then was not an option, since I need that advantage badly to reach the final section in time (also tidal stream related). From the DY1 buoy I hopped to the SE Ruytingen buoy and finally the NW Ruytingen buoy, where the international shipping lane starts. I set course for the WSW Sandettie buoy but noticed my speed was decreased very much due to the stream that still went SW. Soon I made the decision to deviate from the planned route and head towards the Sandettie light ship.
The downside of this plan was that I crossed that part of the shipping lane at a sloping angle instead of as straight a line as possible but I had no other choice because my speed was almost gone, which made a straight crossing of the shipping lane even more dangerous. So, to the lightship it was! Except for one sailing vessel, I did not pass any commercial shipping on the section. My speed increased and so I took all the advantage I needed to go on.
When reaching the Sandettie lightship I was excited. I always had an interest in ships, beacons, buoys, and now this one was ticked off on my list. The second thing I was excited about was that I could now see the white cliffs of Dover in the distance. The next buoy, SW Sandettie, was close and so was the second section of the shipping lane and I was able to cross it on a straighter line. During the crossing I only saw two merchant ships and leaving the shipping lane behind, I set course to the Goodwin light ship, which was not on my initial plan, but since I deviated I had to adapt.
Goodwin Sands
There was very little tidal stream during that stretch and I reached it without compensating too much. It was slack water, made a little choppy due to the area I was paddling – the Goodwin Sands. I had a last break and made a call with the VHF to the Dover Coastguard to state my position and status.
My experience from the previous occasion was the last section could be worse due to the wind. The wind was increasing to force 3-4 from the side (WSW) and the current was picking up in the northerly direction. So, I started heading to the harbour of Ramsgate, which I could not see at that point. The waves were present all the time from that point in, due to the current being pushed over the Goodwin Sands and the wind. It decreased the much-needed speed to aim for the harbour and the more I closed in on land, the harder the tidal stream pushed from the port side. With plenty of persistence, I reached Ramsgate Harbour, finally!
My wife and two children were there, waving and yelling. I was relieved, happy, excited, exhausted and had a feeling that I could take on the whole world whilst at the same time being so tired that I could capsize in the blink of an eye. Just to be exact, after greeting my family, I paddled on to the slipway and it was only there that I switched off my GPS. I had paddled 107 kilometres and spent 17 hours and 48 minutes doing so. After taking a shower and eating a hot meal, we returned home by ferry.
My first time in 2015 was perfect, the weather was perfect and the sea was flat. This time the weather was good… but only good – not perfect. No kayaker talks about force 3 or 4 unless you’re on a mission like this one. I could adapt, as I’m used to doing but the constant headwind in the first half but the port side wind on the last section took its toll. I have no regrets, but I had made it more difficult by taking the crossing on during these conditions. Make no mistake, the sea is boss, you’re not! Even with plenty of training and preparation, it’s the sea that will decide whether you’re ready for it, or not.
Thanks
I wish to thank my family from the bottom of my heart for their continuous and unconditional support on all that I do or undertake! Were it not for them, I could not have done the crossing. Thank you, thank you!
Special thanks to the people from Ostend Radio (MRCC Oostende-Belgian Coastguard) and the Dover Coastguard for watching over me during the crossing, again!
The specifications:
Sea kayak: P&H Cetus Mv (customized kevlar-carbon expedition version)
Paddles: VE Explorer (medium blades +plus spare paddle)
Full safety gear including VHF radio, PLB, pyrotechnical flare, ODEO flare, cell phone, first aid kit, repair kit, paddle-float and pump.
Paddle safe and take care of each other on the water!
