Successful adventure for kayakers

Two kayakers have completed their epic 255 mile voyage from the north of Lewis to the Faroe Islands.

Experienced paddlers Patrick Winterton and Mick Berwick set off on Monday, stopping briefly at North Rona on the way.

The crossing was in aid of the RNLI and it was the first time a kayak attempt has been made unsupported.

One of the most famous crossings is said to have taken place in the 6th Century by St Brendan the navigator.

Former Olympian Patrick Winterton and former British kayaking champion Mick Berwick made land on the most southerly tip of the Faroes at 1530 BST.

Speaking shortly afterwards, Mr Winterton said they received a fantastic reception from the fishermen on the island.

He said: "The first two days were absolutely flat-calm which helped when sleeping in the the makeshift tents on the kayak."

Hazardous waters

The crossing took just 95 hours and Mr Winterton added: "It has been an epic journey and one that Mick and I are thrilled to be the first to successfully complete.

"One of the main hazards we faced was avoiding the trawlers that comb the area working in teams of two."

Previous attempts to chart a course across the stretch of water include one made by the monk Brendan, who almost certainly made the crossing in a tanned ox-hide boat back in the 6th Century.

In 1976, Tim Severin repeated St Brendan's feat aboard a replica boat, Karen and Dan Trotter failed by just 80km in a double kayak in 1995 and Patrick and Mick aborted an attempt in 2008.

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