Community / Explorer aims to become first person to paddleboard between Shetland and Orkney
ENDURANCE athlete Charlie Head seems pretty relaxed despite the rather formidable paddleboarding challenge which looms on the horizon.
He is set to attempt to paddleboard solo from Shetland to Orkney to raise money for marine conservation organisation Sea Shepherd.
It is thought to be the first ever stand-up paddleboard attempt between the two Northern Isles, which Head reckons could cover around 100 miles and may take up to a day to complete.
He will essentially be standing on his paddleboard, which looks similar to a surfboard, and moving forward with the use of a paddle.
Head is taking on the Shetland to Orkney challenge after calling off an ambitious trek to Faroe from Scotland due to the weather.
Speaking to Shetland News shortly after arriving in the isles, he said he has waited for a weather window before attempting the journey, in which the wind direction should be favourable.
At the moment he is planning to set off from Shetland tonight (Monday), and expects to pass Fair Isle around 5am tomorrow morning before continuing southwards to Kirkwall.
Head, who is from the Isle of Wight, said stand-up paddleboarding “gives you such a great vantage point that it makes it a great expedition method”.
He added that “you feel more alive out on the water – it’s about surviving, pushing yourself and seeing what you can achieve”.
Head has plenty of experience, from a paddleboard circumnavigation of the UK to attempting to traverse the Rio Marañón, the Amazon River’s main water source.
Among his other “first of a kind” stand-up paddleboard challenges was an overnight 104km nonstop crossing of Moray Firth solo and unsupported.
He completed this in less than 24 hours “through two wind farms in 15 hours of darkness”.
Although the Shetland to Orkney challenge will no doubt be a fairly exposed trip, Head reckons he could also complete it in under 24 hours.
His current personal best is 140 kilometres in 22 hours, and he says the Shetland-Orkney route will span 160 kilometres.
But Head concedes “it will be what it will be” in terms of timings especially given he is trying out some new gear.
The size of the paddleboard allows him to take some bags of supplies with him to provide much-needed energy, including “military” style food that is quick to eat.
He added that he is “kitted up as if a yacht”, with radio, AIS tracking and flares all on board.
“The physical challenge comes down to maths,” Head said.
“It is about keeping paddling, eating and resting in the right ratios and recognising any change in circumstances that jeopardises those ratios.
“Previous endurance challenges give me the experience to maintain a balance between fatigue, temperature and staying alert.”
A mental health advocate, Head added that his journeys are an “insight into my own mind and an exploration into what we can do together to alleviate some of the pressing traumas that so many of us face”.
Head’s progress on his Shetland to Orkney paddleboard trek will be able to be tracked online, with a link set to go live later today.
Become a member of Shetland News
Shetland News is asking its readers to consider paying for membership to get additional perks:
- Removal of third-party ads;
- Bookmark posts to read later;
- Exclusive curated weekly newsletter;
- Hide membership messages;
- Comments open for discussion.
If you appreciate what we do and feel strongly about impartial local journalism, then please become a member of Shetland News by either making a single payment, or setting up a monthly, quarterly or yearly subscription.
Already a member? Sign in to hide this message.
