Rich Ensoll, 56, and Johan Hoving, 47, have just spent six weeks canoeing 1,500km around the whole coast of Ireland. The duo set off from Cork in their handcrafted canoe on July 1 and started clockwise. Paddling up to 16 hours a day, they pulled back into the same marina 46 days later, on August 15.
Both are seasoned outdoor people. Ensoll is a senior lecturer in Outdoor Studies, and Hoving is the founder of River Deep Mountain High. They wanted to take on a project that was more than just an athletic feat. They wanted something that would allow them to “slow down, embrace the unknown, and reconnect with nature.” However, that does not mean it wasn’t physically hard.
Ancient curragh designs inspired their skin-on-frame canoe. Traditional Irish boats were flexible and lightweight, so they could be easily carried. Speaking to Afloat, the boat’s builder, John Wilkinson, said the design “echoes the curragh, once a vital link between coastal communities.”
Though not meant for long ocean voyages, their canoe saw them safely round the coast and only needed one minor repair as they reached the northernmost point of the journey.
Photo: Johan Hoving and Rich Ensoll
For the entire time, the canoeists had a land safety team that drove around the coastline, giving logistical support. One of the difficulties of using a more traditional vessel is the sleeping arrangements. Many undertaking lengthy ocean paddles have boats with enclosed sleeping compartments. They had no such thing. Though they took the occasional nap in their trusty canoe, sleeping overnight in the boat would not have been the safest of options. Instead, they camped and stayed in villages and marinas along the way, often finding themselves the glad recipients of Irish hospitality.
Unusual medical issue
Ensoll also dealt with an unusual medical issue during the whole trip. Three days before they set off, he discovered that his bladder does not empty properly, and it was starting to affect his kidneys. With no option to fix the issue before the expedition began, he had to learn to self-catheterize, which he did three times a day, every day.
