Last night was the final of ‘Britains’ got Talent’ on TV. And this year is a bumper year for people kayaking around Britain. I’ve tried to collect together the websites of everyone who is having a go – please let me know if I’ve missed anyone.

But first, a note of caution for any circumnavigators –  beware as you might end up looking like this lot in the photo above. This is Barry, Phil and Harry the day they finished their 80-day circumnavigation back in 2005. These 3 share the current record for the fastest circumnavigation with Marcus Demuth, who paddled around solo last year.

Joe Leach set off from Cornwall about 12 days ago and has already reached the North Coast of Anglesey – in readiness for a crossing to the Isle of Man. He’s out to break the solo record set by Marcus Demuth of 80 days. I happened to be at South Stack lighthouse with a video camera when he kayaked past yesterday, so here’s a short video.

jo_leach-SStack – click to see video.

Joe might find that the ‘record’ of 80 days has already been broken by the time he nears Falmouth again. The human dynamo John Willacy is 5 weeks into his speedy circumnavigation, having left from Anglesey on Friday 13th April. John can’t help himself going fast and breaking records, and holds half a dozen records for the fastest crossing of the Irish sea in various places, aswell as a sub-10 hour circumnavigation of Anglesey (which is about 75 nautical miles around!)

Martin Lee is also kayaking solo & clockwise and left from London on 1st April. He’s also completing some long crossings and making fast progress.

Czech couple Natalie Maderova and Michal Madera set off from London on the same day and are taking a “less fast” pace – follow their blog here.

Geoff Cater, Mike Greenslade and Andy Mullins set off from Portscatho on 1st May on their ‘midlife kayak’ – follow their blog here.

Lee Wilson is joining brothers Craig & Stuart Leslie on an unusual anti-clockwise attempt to kayak around mainland Britain. They start later this month in Northumberland – their blog reflects this – “with land on our left”. They are also planning to “take a crack at the 80-day record”.

Rowland Woollven is on the South coast of Britain with Wendy & Barry hoping to complete his circumnavigation this year.

There’s also an unusual attempt to circumnavigate the majority of mainland Britain this year… by sailing canoe! Gavin Millar will leave from his garden in Southampton in June. He’ll go through the Caledonian Canal

I’ll be using some footage of Barry, Harry & Phil’s circumnavigation Great Britain in ‘This is the Sea 5’, due out March 2013. The feature will also show Harry surfing ferry wakes on his local stomping ground in London.

I’ll also put together a blog about other sea kayaking expeditions that are happening at the moment, so please get in touch if you have news of a trip elsewhere in the world!

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