Crossings: Irish Sea - Anglesey / Dublin

The crossing of the Irish Sea by sea kayak is an impressive undertaking by whichever route; however the line between Dublin and Anglesey is seen as the the Blue Riband route, viewed by many as the ultimate of UK-based crossings.

This is a long crossing with ferry lanes to avoid and significant tidal flows along the coastline at either end, which challenge the best of planning and fitness at the close of a long day.

However it is the sheer distance (over 53 nm) which is the most dominating factor on this one. This route demands good planning, good navigation, determination and a fair dose of self reliance.

Image: Brian Fanning + Mick O'Meara (and Team) 2012 Crossing

Irish Sea - Anglesey / Dublin

Route Distance: ~53 nm / 98 km
Prevailing direction: E >> W

Solo

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Posn.	K1W	Cat	Paddler	Elapsed	Date	Start	Finish	Boat	Verified	Note	Link1
1		K1M	John Willacy	11:19:59	01-Oct-11	Soldiers' Point	Howth	Rockpool Taran	Yes
2		K1M	John Willacy	13:45:00	24-Aug-07	Dun Laoghaire	Porth Dafarch	Nelo Inuk	Yes		Photos
3		K1M	Jim Savege	17:00:00	22-Jul-06	Holyhead	Dun Laoghaire	Nelo Inuk	Yes
4		K1M	Harry Whelan	?	2008	Holyhead	Dun Laoghaire		--

4 solo paddlers.
CW = clockwise, CCW = counter-clockwise

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Teams

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Posn.	Cat	Paddler	Elapsed	Date	Start	Finish	Boat	Verified	Note	Link1
1	Team	Brian Fanning Mick O'Meara	10:22:00	28-Jul-12	Bray	Porth Dafarch	Rockpool Taran Rockpool Taran	Yes
2	Team	Nick Cunliffe Justine Curgenven	11:45:00	13-May-09	Soldiers' Point	Coliemore Hbr.	Valley Nordkapp LV SKUK Explorer	--		Blog
3	Team	Sean Cahill Ciaran Cooke Don O Brien	13:10:00	15-Jul-13	Bullock Harbour	Port Dafarch	Rockpool Taran Sipre ? Kayak Pro Nemo	--
4	Team	Barry Shaw Harry Whelan	14:34:00	25-Aug-03	Porth Dafarch	Dun Laoghaire	SKUK Explorer SKUK Explorer	--		Link1
5	Team	Jonny Eldridge Dan McGonigle	15:48:16	10-Aug-20	Porth Dafarch	Bullock Harbour	Rockpool Taran Rockpool Taran 16	--	Overnight
6	Team	John Chamberlin Tim Oldrini	16:13:00	14-Jun-96	Soldiers' Point	Dun Laoghaire	P+H Outlander P+H Capella	--
7	K2	Ray Goodwin / Terry Storrey	16:30:00	?-?-1996	Holyhead	Dun Laoghaire		--
8	K2	Leo Hoare / Olly Sanders	~16:00:00	May-2001	Holyhead	Dublin		--
9	K2	Martin Bell / Adam Waller	~18:00:00	11-Apr-94	Soldier's Point?	Howth	Aleut 2	--	Overnight
10	Team	David Attenborough Roger Chandler Steve Miles James Stevenson	~19:00:00	13-Mar-14	Rhoscolyn	Dun Laoghaire	P+H Quest SKUK Explorer Rockpool Taran 16	Yes		Blog
11	Team	Dave Bland Nick Gough Derek Mayes	20:15:00	29-Jun-69	Dun Laoghaire	Holyhead	Streamlyte KW7 Streamlyte KW7	--		Article
12	K2	Alan Creedon / Mike Alexander	~22:00:00	15-May-16	Porth Dafarch	Dun Laoghaire	Perception Horizon	--		Blog
13	Team	George Arnison Rob Cunliffe		5/6-Aug-02	Porth Dafarch	Dun Laoghaire	Valley Nordkapp HM P+H Sirius	--		Link1

30 team paddlers in 13 teams

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Comments

Dave Bland / Nick Gough et al. (29-Jun-69)
Read the PSK article for more details.

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John Chamberlin / Tim Oldrini et al. (14-Jun-96)
From John: "I believe I might possibly have been the first person to do three, and 'all three', crossings; south, north, central?"

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Nick Cunliffe / Justine Curgenven et al. (13-May-09)
From Nick: "Throughout the crossing the wind varied between E4-5, occasionally more ENE. It had been blowing from the east for a few days, so we had a good moderate sea mid-crossing – downhill paddling all the way. The sea state settled once we crossed the Kish Bank, especially as the wind was no more than E4 for the last couple of hours. On a personal note, it was also my 42nd birthday and I fancied a big day out to celebrate - I certainly got one! Justine didn’t know until we arrived. We hadn’t gone out to set a “record”, just to get it over with as quick as possible and to enjoy the conditions. The Guinness tasted good in Dun Laoghaire! "

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Jonny Eldridge / Dan McGonigle et al. (10-Aug-20)
Overnight Crossing.

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Brian Fanning / Mick O'Meara et al. (28-Jul-12)
Every now and then a record comes along that looks as if it may stand for a good while, this is probably one of them. Brian and Mick smashed the 11 hour barrrier - on a day when the conditions were a good way from perfect.

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Ray Goodwin / Terry Storrey et al. (?-?-1996)
Ray has also sailed this crossing with Dave Howie in open canoe, in 1994 I believe.

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Irish Sea - Anglesey / Dublin
17 completions -- 4 solo + 13 team + 0 escorted
34 paddlers in total (4 solo / 30 team / 0 escorted

Route Distance: ~53 nm / 98 km
Prevailing direction: E >> W
Recorded Start Points:

• Bray (1)
• Bullock Harbour (1)
• Dun Laoghaire (2)
• Holyhead (4)
• Porth Dafarch (3)
• Porth Dafarch (1)
• Rhoscolyn (1)
• Soldier's Point? (1)
• Soldiers' Point (3)




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