An update on The Great British Paddle
by Sarah Thornely
www.supjunkie.co.uk
Photos: Alfie Marsh
www.alfiemarsh.com
James May and
Supjunkie
The Wylie Diary Part III (it’s a wrap!)
WHAT, I hear you ask? No more following the Paddle Logger LIVE tracker to see where Stand Up Paddleboarder Jordan Wylie has reached on his circumnavigation of Great Britain? No more constant checking on the GivePenny website to see how much The Great British Paddle has raised for Frontline Children?
Sadly, The Great British Paddle has come to an abrupt end when Jordan was just shy, by 23km, of John O’Groats after one of the fiercest battles around Cape Wrath which is where our Wylie Diary Part II saw the adventure last.
In 2020, we can only give you one guess as to why this expedition has finished. It’s not to do with the constant severe weather conditions or mental anguish and lack of determination by the man – Covid-19 and more stringent lockdown rules meant that this wonderful and exciting challenge was to finish on the wild unforgiving north coast of Scotland.
For weeks, Jordan had been sitting waiting for a weather window, having paddled wide around Cape Wrath and effectively ‘trapping’ himself and his crew in one of the toughest coastlines in the world being battered by storm after storm. Finally, in the week before Christmas, the team had small weather windows and support from an experienced local kayaker who guided Jordan along the coastline. Baby steps of almost another 60km were achieved with the goal of John O’Groats tantalisingly close, and an army of press lined up and waiting for his arrival.
Coronavirus regulations and laws
On the evening of Tuesday 22nd January 2020, after constant lengthy discussions, telephone calls and emails with the Scottish Government, the decision was made amongst the team that the time had come to stop rather than be in breach of the new coronavirus regulations and laws. It was also the time to lead by example and do the right thing that the team had done throughout the whole expedition, whilst knowing that they had been incredibly fortunate to continue whilst so many others could not experience even simple pleasures.
The team had been aboard the yacht, supplied by The Royal Logistics Corp, felt safe and secure within the rules and had been a ‘bubble’ for many months. They could have fought for their rights for a few more days to reach that iconic landmark in Scotland and set another new Guinness World Record but knew this would not be setting the best example to those very people they were raising funds for. This trip has been about inspiring young people overseas and at home through the gift of education and spirit of adventure and not to be spoilt with the lack of a world record.
So, after the sadness and frustration that the journey had finished, there were the practicalities. The team had just spent almost £1000 on food to last them many months on the ocean, and this was donated to a local food bank charity in Scotland – always thinking of others. The yacht was tidied up and put to bed to await collection at a later date in 2021, and the team said some incredibly emotional goodbyes as they prepared to travel home.
Please check out my latest interview with Jordan here:
Safely home to Andover
Can you imagine leaving your team who had supported you through SO much, where you had lived and breathed together in an incredibly small space for months? Max the skipper then drove some 17 hours non-stop overnight to deliver Jordan safely home to Andover arriving at around 0600 – the first thing that Jordan did was grab a beer and take himself to bed to reflect on The Great British Paddle adventure.
There are always silver linings, and the big one now was that Jordan was able to spend Christmas with his daughter Evie who he surprised on Christmas Day – she had no idea he was on his way home! Can you imagine? Over the coming days, there would be reflections and feelings of positivity for the journey and the people that Jordan had met (more of these legends later!) For now, it was simple pleasures like a good roast, a beard and hair trim and normal bathroom facilities!
Fundraising had been slowly ticking along throughout the adventure. This also got a healthy boost with pledges paid, some excellent PR on national TV and radio and bigger donations from schools and other groups. This culminated with Sky Newsreader Kay Burley, a friend of Jordan’s from when she appeared on Celebrity Hunted, appearing on ITV’s The Chase, a Christmas Celebrity Special. Kay knew she wanted to support Jordan’s Charity, Frontline Children and went BIG to help secure a pot of £150,000 if the team of three won.
Beating the ‘Chaser’
Like me, I can imagine all the team watched Kay and her fellow contestants beat the ‘Chaser’ and come away with a hefty £50,000 each for their chosen Charities! Suddenly, the pot was richer at just over £80,000, and with further efforts by the team and all their supporters, we also hope to help Jordan reach his goal of £100,000 to finish building that school on the Horn of Africa.
Get on the Water UK who helped provide Jordan with his SIC Maui paddleboard, agreed with SIC that Jordan could auction off the board to help pay for his travel and accommodation when visiting Africa to open the school and finish documenting this incredible story with the help of Alfie Marsh, who would travel with him.
The board was fittingly sold to the ladies at Angel Call Handling who have become like family to Jordan being the main expedition sponsors based in his hometown of Andover. These ladies run a small business with a substantial positive impact and have gone above and beyond sponsoring this cause from day one with advice and financial support even down to providing the team with warmer sleeping bags while struggling with the bitterly cold temperatures around Scotland.
Deserving a mention
Other team members deserve mention. We are happy to do that on Jordan’s behalf – Paula Reid, the Adventure Psychologist, has provided Jordan with specific performance psychology to help him cope with surviving, coping and thriving in variable conditions. They have spent many months working on Jordan’s mental fitness. “Any psychological preparation enables the performer to be more resourceful and less stressed in situ and make better decisions when the heat is on”, said Paula. She has ‘measured’ Jordan’s psychological health on a daily and weekly basis.
He has been getting high scores for mental strength, despite coming off medication for anxiety and depression – Jordan has truly appreciated Paula’s help. He also puts this down to ‘blue therapy’, claiming that he feels ‘there is a magical power that the proximity to water and the coastline brings’. As lovers of all things ‘paddle sports’, I think we could learn a thing or two about this natural therapy but also check out Paula’s work for any future adventures you might have.
Big thanks also go to the Project Manager, Alex Alley, who planned Jordan’s route and kept almost an hourly vigil on the weather forecast – Alex has many years of ocean experience under his belt and also brought us some wonderful interviews on a Sunday evening with Riding the Storm.
Two incredible filmmakers
James May and Alfie Marsh, two incredible filmmakers, put themselves in some fairly interesting positions to grab excellent video footage and photographs throughout the trip – please do go and check them both out on social media and the beautiful videos created for Jordan on his YouTube Channel. It was, in our opinion, a weekly high when the latest episode was released.
And thanks to…
On the yacht, there was Tori Wells (first-mate), Mia Mallison (first-mate/social media), Max Rivers (skipper), Daz Cox (skipper) and on land Katie Brooks (PR/website), Freya Barnes (social media), Stu Edmonson (runner) and Ashton Grayson (standby support). This trip could not have happened without these wonderful people who are now, because of the journey they have travelled on with Jordan, part of his extended family. Eton Harris and Chartercross based in the United Arab Emirates are Jordan’s personal sponsors, and he also considers them family.
REMEMBER YOUR WHY
When things get in your way, and you lose track, go back to the ’why’.
Jordan’s WHY is his promise to build a school on the Horn of Africa for 250 children in a refugee camp.
IT’S NOT THE CRITIC THAT COUNTS
“I’ve come to learn, and live by, that unless the haters and non-believers are in the arena and getting their butt kicked alongside you, then don’t even give them the privilege of being in your headspace.”
STAY TRUE TO YOUR VALUES
“Your values are ultimately your internal compass to help you navigate life. If you compromise them, you will get lost quickly and stop moving forward. Never forget who you are and what you stand for.”
FOCUS, FOCUS, FOCUS
“Every time before my paddle, I re-aligned my focus onto the paddle, the weather, the environment, the risks, the equipment. My focus was always on performing to the best of my ability and giving myself the best chance of progress the moment I stepped onto the board. Keep your head up and look forward, whatever you are doing in life.”
BLUE THERAPY
“There is so much to be said for the powerful blue therapy I have experienced, including the physical activity, natural surroundings, wildlife, fresh air, purpose, motivation, hope, sense of progress and achievement, joyful moments, team spirit and support. I hope my journey will show others that with the right PEOPLE, a strong PURPOSE and with lots of PASSION that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE!”
Supjunkie
I would personally like to thank Jordan for his never-ending spirit of adventure, resilience, positivity and mental strength and for also allowing Supjunkie to be part of ‘the team’. He has always had time for us and has given so much back to all those who have supported him on this wonderful challenge. Please keep doing what you are doing Jordan, and we look forward to hearing what the next adventure will be!
You can still donate here:
https://givepenny.com/the-great-British-paddle-2020?
