Paddleboarder has extended stay in Northern Ireland during world record attempt

Adverse weather conditions mean Jordan Wylie, 36, from Blackpool, had to dock in Portaferry on Saturday.

He began The Great British Paddle after another of his challenges in aid of Frontline Children – to do 10 marathons in the 10 coldest places on earth – was put on hold due to lockdown.

Of the perfect conditions for paddleboarding he said: “Ideally you just want light winds behind you and flat, calm water but you rarely get that at this time of year.”

This morning Jordan was in Portaferry hoping that he could get back in the water later tonight: “Every time I stop paddling we drop a GPS pin and I have to start again at that exact position. Portaferry was the closest marina where we could get out of the storm. When I start again it will be at Ballyhornan.”

He said: “This is our third day in Portaferry, not a super long time but long enough to need to get moving again.

“We’ve had lots of support from the local businesses in Northern Ireland. We took a delivery of about £1,000 worth of food for the boat. There are lots of very kind people, especially in the Annalong and Portaferry area.”

Having crossed the Irish Sea, Jordan is making his way up the east coast until he gets close to Ballycastle then he will cross to Scotland.

He said: “I’m knackered, but also frustrated because of the weather. In the early days of the challenge I was paddling a good 12 hours every day for a couple of months. Now it’s more of a psychological battle than a physical one.”