Paddlers from the Royal Marines have marked the D-Day 80th anniversary by paddling 90 nautical miles across the English Channel overnight to Northern France.
Setting off in two-person Klepper folding kayaks on 4 June from The Yomper in Portsmouth, the momentous challenge was completed by the morning of 5 June after safely crossing the English Channel and arriving at Port-en-Bessin.
The group paddled onto the Allied opposed landing beach heads in Normandy, beginning with the American sectors (Utah and Omaha), culminating with the British and Canadian sectors (Gold, Juno, and Sword).
The team is made up of nine serving and eight veteran Marines, two former Hasler (Naval Recovery Centre) members, and the Royal Marines Charity Vice-Patron Keith Breslauer.
The idea came from Lee Waters and Joe Maynard, who formed the RMA Paddle Sports Group to support serving and former military personnel, and led the expedition of the nine folding boats.
Speaking from Normandy after completing the challenge, Lee Waters said:
“Myself and Joe came over here five years ago in a folding boat and it just gave us the idea that we should paddle the Channel for one of the significant celebrations such as the 80th anniversary and paddle to all of the beaches.
“It's been emotional to be here, people have been coming up to us and giving us money to put into our charity. The atmosphere has been amazing, most of the French people dress up as the different organisations of the military that served here in World War II.
“It's been such an amazing and unique experience to be part of.”
The RMA Paddle Sports Group is formed of veteran and serving Commandos from across all three UK Services; the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force.
The Royal Navy Paddlesports Association is a Paddle UK affiliated club and members regularly compete in the annual Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race.
13 members competed in the 2024 edition in the senior doubles and singles events.
The Normandy landings in 1944 is the largest seaborne military operation in history.
D-Day is recognised as the beginning of the liberation of France, and the rest of Western Europe, which laid the foundations for the Allied victory in the Second World War.
The D-Day anniversary paddle is to support the Royal Marines Association Charity, which exists to help and offer a range of services to serving members, veterans and their families.