It’s 38 miles from Campbeltown on the southeastern corner of the Mull of Kintyre in Scotland to Cushendall on the Antrim Coast across the North Channel.

Four men from Northern Ireland achieved this stamina-sapping feat in a fundraising prone paddle called Channel 38 on Thursday last. They raised valuable funds for the RNLI and the Air Ambulance Northern Ireland.

The four paddleboarders with Carla Jackson a volunteer with Campbeltown RNLI Photo Campbeltown RNLI

Brothers Carl and Jamie Russell, Connel McBrearty and Colm Watters were the intrepid four who paddled the 38 miles from Campbeltown RNLI station, and they were greeted by an excited crowd when they arrived at Redbay Lifeboat station just before dark on Thursday last.

The organiser, Carl Russell, has chosen Air Ambulance Northern Ireland after the touching story of John and Maura McAuley. Mr and Mrs McAuley sadly lost their son, Ronan, due to adult death syndrome a few years ago. He also has chosen the RNLI as their second charity, seeing first-hand how it saves lives at sea. Carl Russell is the founder of Sub6, a surf school based in Northern Ireland.

Stephen McKenzie accompanied them on the support vessel.

You can donate here

#surfing – The Irish Surfing Association (ISA) is planning to introduce up to 500 girls and women to Stand Up Paddle, one of the world's fastest growing water sports, at a weekend for women on the 10/11 May at one of Ireland's leadng yacht clubs, the National Yacht Club in Dun Laoghaire.  

Stand Up Paddle or SUP is an ancient discipline of surfing that has re-emerged in recent years and is taking the world by storm. SUP can be enjoyed by everyone. Learning the basics is physically less demanding then surfing and it does not require waves to get going, therefore can be enjoyed on calm water.

The weekend is free. A team of all-female instructors will be on hand and all equipment required to get going will be supplied. Participants will only need bring a towel and swimming suit.

Our Stand Up Paddle weekend is hosted under the Women in Sport Initiative, run by the Irish Sports Council, to encourage more Irish women to participate in sport, and supported by the National Yacht Club.

For further information and booking contact-

Zoё Lally, Development Officer, Irish Surfing Association LTD, Easkey Surfing & Information Centre, Easkey, Co Sligo, Ireland Tel: Office: 096 49428 Mobile: 087 2333789