Last Updated on 28/08/2024 by Jennifer
FIRST PERSON TO STAND UP PADDLE AROUND NORTHERN IRELAND
My name is Jennifer Greenlees and I have a passion for long distance Paddleboarding. I have been making my way around Northern Ireland and on along the Irish Coast in sections as various fundraisers.
I paddled 75 miles from Portballintrae to Bangor in 3 days as a fundraiser for my cousins cancer treatment and Marie Curie in 2014.
I also paddled from Donegal to Portballintrae in 1 day (5hrs) as a fundraiser for my friend who was getting cancer treatment in 2020.
Then I thought I would try a longer stretch, Bangor to Dublin, was 100 miles but due to to covid travel restrictions, weather conditions etc. took quite long. I did, Bangor to Strangford Lough crossing in September 2021. Strangford to Carlingford I completed February 2022. I was very excited about is this as I hit a mile stone and have now paddled the whole way around Northern Ireland! I paddled on to Dublin and finished this 100 mile challenge in October 2022.
I have decided to keep going on around Ireland and keep the fundraising going for the RNLI as I would like to reach my target of £5000 or more. So I have continued along the Irish Coast during the winter months of 2023 and am now just have the west coast to do in 2024.
Please sponsor me! All proceeds going to RNLI.
You can donate on my JustGiving page it is simple, fast and totally secure.
Click here to go to my Just Giving Page
You can watch my progress here or on my Facebook page.
You can also follow me on Facebook where you can watch all the videos as well as follow my progress…https://www.facebook.com/jennyspaddlearoundireland/
 
   
 
 
          
    
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1)Where did the idea come from?
I happened to be in America when the stand up paddle boarding craze began. I took it up in the summer 2007 and by the time I came back home to Northern Ireland long distance paddles where becoming a thing. At home however it was relatively new sport and it wasn’t a common to see people out paddling along the coast. Al Mennie is a famous big wave surfer from Northern Ireland and he had paddled 25 miles to Scotland as a fundraiser. I was very impressed but thought no, thats not my thing, it would be way out of my comfort zone to paddle out into the sea. I feel safer hugging the coast. I had already paddled some of the Northern Ireland Coast line since I had been home. Belfast Lough, where my family lived. Some of the North Coast where I was currently living. I had even paddled a little along the Antrim Coast. So I thought I could join the dots and paddle the whole thing which was roughly 70 miles. I was thinking very optimistically, maybe a marathon a day over 3 days in a row. Shortly after coming up with this idea, I heard that my family needed some fundraising ideas for my cousin Allyson who was battling for her life against cancer and wished to undertake treatment in Canada costing $70000. I thought that this could be my opportunity to fundraise and do this long distance paddle challenge that truly inspired me. I decided to SUP (stand up paddle) the coast Portballintrae to Bangor, 70 miles the longest distance yet to be paddled in Ireland. Back then most people didn’t think this would even be possible as the coastline around Ireland is so dangerous. I had only ever paddled max 10miles in one day. But I was determined to give it a go.
2) What was the most enjoyable thing about it?
The wonderful sense of achievement when its was done…lol! I was nervous about what I had taken on as most people had there doubts. I didn’t even have a lot of time to train as my cousin needed the money now. I had no idea how long it would take me, so I was a bit worried after day one when it took me 9 hours to cover the distance I needed to. So I found myself focusing on one thing only for the 3 days and that was crossing the finish line in Bangor. It ended up being 7-9 hours paddling a day so I was absolutely thrilled (and completely exhausted) when I crossed the finish line one hour earlier than I needed to! You see the weather was to change the next day so I couldn’t add an extra day on and the current was to change at 2pm and as I was so tired I didn’t want to be paddling against the current while crossing a busy shipping area at Belfast Lough. Thankfully I did it in good time!
3) Lowest Moment
The nerves can kick in when I am about to head out into the water especially if its a notoriously dangerous part of the coast. I really hope I have made all the right calculations for wind and tide etc. My son is usually nearby and I would hate him to witness me running into any trouble. So its very nerve wracking when things go wrong. Three times I have encountered problems, thankfully not with me, but with my support team.
The first time my rescue boat hit rocks on day 3 of my 70 mile paddle making the boat unseaworthy and destroying cameras on board and all the footage, never mind shattering the nerves of those in the boat!
The second time I was out enjoying the company of 2 other experienced paddle boarders on an early morning paddle along the Arts Peninsula, when we realised we were caught in the current and unable to go anywhere. We were paddling with all our might without making any headway. One of the group had a shoulder injury and I was worried about her. Thankfully we realised it was a good idea to change direction and managed to paddle out of the current and on our way.
Another time I had company while attempting to cross Lough Foyle. A huge mass of fast flowing water which is on the border between the North and South of Ireland at Magilligan. The paddle boarder joining me got swept away upstream just after we took off so I spent the rest of the time tackling the currents and worrying about him unsure of what I should do as we had certainly not planned for this. Thankfully as the sun came up I could see that my rescue boat had arrived and my friend was safe and sound.
I have realised that just because you have support does not mean problems wont still arise. Expect the unexpected. You almost need a back up plan for every back up plan.
3) Share a piece of wisdom from experience on this challenge for anyone reading who might be inspired to take on something similar. What would that be?
Safety always comes first!
Know your limitations. For me I have a range of weather conditions that I will or will not go out in. Don’t go out unless its in your safety zone. Sometimes its tempting to go out into the sea because that day might suit your plans time wise or someone else’s. But if the conditions aren’t suitable don’t be tempted to go out. Also if you are out and you intuition is telling you that its not feeling safe. Listen to that and turn back or exit as soon as I can. Its not worth getting yourself in trouble and risking your life and others. There is always another day.
Always let others know what you are doing. My husband is driving nearby to pick me up so I keep him updated to my whereabouts.
I also run everything by the coast guard. They have been a tremendous support for me. I listen to their advice and its reassuring to know that they know what you are doing. I always call them before I go out and as soon as I get back in.
