Richard triumphs in Antarctic adventure

From the archive, first published Friday 9th Mar 2007.

ROYAL Navy Lt Richard Abbot has taken on the icy cold waters of the Antarctic and completed the challenge of a lifetime.

The meteorologist is stationed onboard HMS Endurance, the Navy's ice patrol vessel.

He was part of an eight-strong team which circumnavigated Vega Island, near the South Pole, in sea kayaks.

The team had originally intended to travel around larger James Ross Island, but a last minute weather check revealed the route was too dangerous.

Richard, 28, from Great Wakering, said: "We only knew we would not be making the attempt an hour before we set off, as the helicopter returned after checking out the south western side of the island.

"Although we were disappointed we could not make the attempt, we enjoyed a life-changing experience during the eight days." He added: "We circumnavigated Vega Island which, though smaller than James Ross, is still a significant achievement. To the best of our knowledge, it was the first circumnavigation in kayaks."

The team was made up of four members of HMS Endurance's ship's company, three other Royal Navy personnel and one civilian instructor.

They completed the feat to raise awareness and money for a number of good causes. These include the Percy Hedley Foundation, which supports children with cerebral palsy, Hampshire Autistic Society, UK Heritage Trust, Macmillan Cancer Support and Portsmouth Football Club's Healthy Eating Initiative.

They battled through 60 mile-an-hour winds, snow and ice

Richard, a former pupils at King Edmund School, in Rochford said: "We got stuck in the ice at least once and had to haul our kayaks on to icebergs to find clear water as the ice closed in around us.

"We spent 36 hours bunked down in our tents as we were buffeted by gale force winds and freezing temperatures with the wind chill down at -30C."

But he still describes the journey as "amazing" and, thankfully, all the team returned safely.

For more information on the team's challenge visit www.visitandlearn.co.uk/ endurancekayak.