Sebastian Szubski fastest circumnavigation of Britain by kayak

Sebastian Szubski has officially broken the record for fastest circumnavigation of Britain by kayak. The Polish Olympian set off from near Mallaig, in western Scotland, on the 12th of June. He started with the most dangerous section of the coast, and came out with a few harrowing stories… But he made it through Scotland, breezed down the east coast with several major crossings, pushed through some rough weather along the south coast and in Cornwall, snuck across the Bristol Channel unscathed (barely), crossed the Irish Sea, and smashed out the fastest days of his trip in the final week. He finished on Day 37, 36 days and 6 hours after he started.

Szubski already had multiple world records including the 24 hour flat water paddling record (252km on the lake Jezioro Ocwieckie in 2019), but the circumnavigation of Britain was special. He had to learn how to paddle on the sea in surfski, and only started learning last October. He had to navigate some of the most dangerous tidal races in the world, which he did with extensive help from 2024 circumnavigator Michael Lambert @livelaughgraft . And he had to go fast enough to break the seemingly unbreakable record of 40 days that endurance phenomenon Dougal Glaisher had set in 2023 (solo, unsupported, and diabetic).

Sebastian found new motivation in raising funds and awareness for @fundacja_nwpm . After his own bipolar diagnosis in 2009, he worried whether he’d be able to live a “normal” life. Since then, he’s proven that not only is it possible to live an ordinary life with bipolar disorder, it’s possible to live an extraordinary life.

Read more on Paddle Daily