Kayaker, diver and maritime heritage advocate Alex Denny is set to undertake an extraordinary unsupported kayak expedition along England’s South Coast to raise vital funds for the Nautical Archaeology Society.
The South Coast Shipwreck Heritage Paddle will see Alex cover 44 nautical miles (50 miles / 81 kilometres) from his home in Brighton to Fort Cumberland, near Portsmouth, the headquarters of the Nautical Archaeology Society.
Taking place between 6 – 9 July, the challenge will require Alex to paddle the equivalent of a half marathon each day, navigating one of Britain’s most historically significant stretches of coastline entirely under his own power.
The stretch of coast from the Seven Sisters to the Solent hosts numerous historic and protected shipwrecks, including the Klein Hollandia, Holland 5 submarine, the ‘Black Cat’ wreck, The Hazardous, and the A1 submarine. Many of these sites have been researched, documented and protected through the work of the Nautical Archaeology Society and its network of volunteers, helping to preserve stories that might otherwise have been lost beneath the waves forever.
“For as long as I can remember, I have been fascinated by both history and the sea,” says Alex Denny, who is also a Trustee of the Nautical Archaeology Society.
“Nautical archaeology brings those passions together in a unique way. It allows us to connect directly with our seafaring past, not just through written records, but through the remarkable traces that still survive beneath the water. Shipwrecks are extraordinary time capsules. Every wreck has a story waiting to be discovered, understood and protected. The Nautical Archaeology Society plays a vital role in safeguarding that heritage, and I wanted to take on a challenge that would help support that work.”
Alex chose the paddle because of its direct connection to the charity’s mission and the rich maritime history of the coastline he will follow.
“I wanted to undertake something that felt genuinely meaningful and closely linked to the Society’s work,” he says. “Kayaking from Brighton to Portsmouth seemed the perfect fit. It’s a journey through historic waters, past harbours and wreck sites I’ve dived myself, travelling slowly and under my own power. It’s a powerful reminder of how deeply Britain’s history is connected to the sea.”
Funds raised through the challenge will provide the Nautical Archaeology Society with much-needed unrestricted funding – one of the most difficult types of charitable income to secure, yet among the most valuable.
These funds allow the Society to direct support wherever it is needed most, helping to deliver education programmes, community outreach, heritage protection initiatives, archaeological research and volunteer development. In doing so, the charity continues to inspire people of all ages to explore and protect Britain’s – and the world’s – rich maritime heritage.
By supporting Alex’s challenge, donors will be helping to ensure that important stories from our shared past can continue to be discovered, recorded and preserved for future generations.
To find out more or support Alex’s South Coast Shipwreck Heritage Paddle, visit: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/heritagepaddle
For more information on the Nautical Archaeology Society, visit: https://www.nauticalarchaeologysociety.org/
