Damien's D118 Devizes to Westminster

My Activity Tracking

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mi

My target 118 mi

Training stats...

DW is not an event to take part in without doing a bit of training unless you're already pretty fit.

Over the last year I've paddled 464 miles and portaged 283 locks etc. (getting the boat out of the water, walking around an obstruction and getting back in). There are 77 portages on the DW route - they come thick and fast on the K&A canal, and are rather more spaced out on the Thames.

Average speed is a less useful figure as it includes time spent stopping for photos or loo breaks or walking around checking out portage points - none of which we'll be doing in the race - but it was 3.83mph over that whole mileage. We need about 4mph on average to make the time cutoffs each day so should be fine!

I paddled on 11 different waterways including the Kennet & Avon Canal and Thames, the Nene, Grand Union Canal, the Worcester Ring and many others, in a variety of boats - mostly a lovely Wenonah Advantage C1, but also 'George', a heavy fibreglass C2. Thankfully a much lighter Wenonah ICF C2 was sourced in January so we'll be paddling that.

Weight loss... with a bit of a fitness kick including calorie counting and running (Couch to 5K - 2 more weeks of that to go), my weight has dropped by 13.4kg. My flexibility getting in and out of the canoe has improved noticeably, which helps our speed at portages.

Weather weather...

I've been training for this paddle for nearly 3 years. We first intended to do it in 2023, but the race was curtailed at Reading due to flood conditions - heavy rain in the weeks leading up to the race had turned the Thames into a raging torrent. Last year was similar, and the finish had already been shifted to Teddington, with no guarantee it wouldn't be curtailed further once we were on the water. So we deferred again. This year, with a later Easter, it looks like the weather gods will be kinder. Currently there's rain for day 1, but sunny spells for the remaining 3 days. Fingers crossed that a day of drizzle is all we have to contend with!

I am raising vital funds for life-changing mental health treatment for veterans in memory of HMS Coventry D118

In April 1982 the first ships of the Royal Navy Task Force were enroute to the Falklands. Over the course of the next three months a hard fought war was won, but many lives were lost, and countless others changed forever.

Historically, the Ministry of Defence support given to those affected by their service experiences has been poor to say the least, so charities like Combat Stress are incredibly important.

So, due to a combination of drinking and saying 'Yes' when the idea of canoeing for 4 straight days from one side of the country to the other was suggested, and in memory of the crew of HMS Coventry D118, I'm paddling 118 miles in the Devizes to Westminster canoe race, with my friend Marion shouting at me from behind, to raise money for Combat Stress.

Devizes to Westminster is the UK's longest canoe race, usually covering 125 miles from the quay at Devizes in Wiltshire to Westminster Bridge in London. This year the class I'm entered in will be finishing a little short, at Putney, but as this makes it 118 miles I'm viewing it as a fortuitous coincidence with HMS Coventry's pennant number of D118!

Combat Stress is the UK's leading charity for veterans' mental health. For over a century, they've helped former servicemen and women deal with issues like trauma, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Today, they provide support to veterans from every service and every conflict.

Thank you so much for your support.