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From the time I repaired the broken hatch, I was unable to vent
the cabin. Condensation had built up considerably. Over the following
weeks the electronics become troublesome due to the moisture. Four
days away from the finish, the main phone ceased to function. The
only option open to me was to use the emergency mobile phone, which,
due to the limited power source, provided just two days of communication
with the outside world. If this wasn't bad enough, the tracking
device also started to act up. While in contact with Jim, he informed
me 'Stratos' was having trouble locating me via the tracking system.
Unfortunately, the communication and tracking devices were not designed
to withstand such battering in a small craft like a kayak. The fact
that they had worked so well for so long under such adverse conditions
is a credit to the company that manufactured and fitted them. Forty-eight
hours away from landing, the condensation situation worsened. Consequently
the whole system shut down. In spite of all these problems, I was
not fazed as I knew it was only a matter of days before I reached
land.
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09:12
hours on September 4, I spotted land to the south! I paddled
east and the wind pushed me towards the land.
From analysing the surrounding land features, I knew I was
in Donegal Bay. During that night as I mopped out the cabin
with a chamois cloth, I spotted three lights on the horizon.
I soon realised what they were, and quickly got undressed
from my one-pieced fleece suit and lunged into the cockpit,
naked-I had no time to get into my paddling gear!-as a fishing
trawler missed me by a mere 100 feet! At dawn there was a
thick sea mist encroaching, but around lunchtime the mist
cleared to reveal the cliffs of southern Ireland. There was
no way I could spend another night sleeping at sea with the
cliffs so close-I was determined to paddle as far as I could
and then land. About 17:00 hours I saw a small fishing boat
and asked where the nearest harbour was. They directed me
and I headed towards the small fishing village of Beldereg,
County Mayo.
Upon
entering the harbour, I spotted two gentlemen and shouted
to them. At the same time a Coast Guard helicopter flew overhead.
I had been forewarned that a helicopter might come looking
for me. I tied the kayak up to the harbour wall and climbed
up the ladder. The two gentlemen offered to help but I flatly
refused, explaining that I had to walk on my own first. As
I took my first step, I fell over onto my knees. The gentlemen
asked, "Can we help you now?" "Yes, please
do," I replied. When I asked, "Where am I?"
they looked confused. I explained that I had just paddled
from St. Johns in Newfoundland and had been at sea for 76
days.
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Finishing
the Challenge
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