Two Men in a Canoe successfully circumnavigate Ireland’s coastline.

To trace Ireland’s coastline on a map is to glimpse 7,500 km (4,660 miles) of raw beauty, dramatic seascapes, thriving bird colonies, and rich marine life. Now imagine paddling it in a Curragh-style canoe, a traditional skin-on-frame craft. At YB Tracking, we’re proud to be part of journeys like this, keeping safety at hand while families, friends, and supporters follow every step of the adventure. Here is their story:

Two Cumbrian Men Complete a World-First Circumnavigation of the Island of Ireland in a Traditional Carrick-Style Canoe

Ulverston, Cumbria - August 2025 - Adventurers Rich Ensoll and Johan Hoving, both from Ulverston in Cumbria, successfully completed a world-first circumnavigation of the entire coastline of Ireland in a traditional carrick-style open canoe.

On Friday 15th August 2025 at 3:15pm, after 46 days and more than 1,500 km of paddling, the pair arrived into Crosshaven near Cork, the very point where they had launched on 1st July 2025.

A Monumental Journey

Fewer than 100 people had ever completed a circumnavigation of Ireland by sea kayak. But no one had ever achieved it in a traditional open canoe. This made Rich and Johan's voyage not just a bold expedition but a confirmed world-first achievement.

Their journey demanded resilience, endurance, and adaptability. From serene nights paddling alongside dolphins beneath starlit skies to battling storms and towering Atlantic swells, they faced the full spectrum of Ireland's wild seas and rugged coastlines.

They travelled through isolated coves, bustling fishing villages, and busy marinas, experiencing both the ferocity of nature and the warmth of coastal hospitality.

More Than a Record - A Reflection on Life

For Rich and Johan, this expedition was not only about setting a record. "Canoeing Round Ireland" became a personal meditation on slowness, vulnerability, and connection - with the ocean, with communities, and with themselves.

Their canoe, Ronan, handmade by John Wilkinson of Valkyrie Crafts, became both vessel and companion. Despite not being designed for the ocean, Ronan proved his seaworthiness, surviving punishing conditions and carrying them safely around Ireland's exposed coastline. At one critical point in the north, Wilkinson himself welcomed them, repaired Ronan's hull, and helped prepare them for the eastern leg of the voyage.

A Journey Shared

Throughout the expedition, Rich and Johan shared their progress via their website and social media, publishing journals, photographs, and reflections. Their story invited others not just to follow their route, but to consider new ways of slowing down and engaging with the natural world.

"It would be easy to think a trip like this was about the destination," they reflected. "But even if we never launched, the friendships built and the lessons learned would still have been worth it."

Paddling with Purpose

The voyage also raised awareness and funds for two causes close to their hearts:

• The Kepplewray Trust's Participation and Inclusion Fund (Cumbria) - supporting access to the outdoors for people of all abilities and backgrounds.

• Oxfam Ireland - working to end poverty and injustice worldwide.

Meet the Paddlers

• Rich Ensoll, Senior Lecturer at the University of Cumbria, dedicated the expedition to promoting inclusive adventure and challenging gender stereotypes in outdoor education.

• Johan Hoving, founder of River Deep Mountain High, used the journey to champion Kepplewray Trust's mission of "activities for all walks of life."

A Historic First

With their safe return to Crosshaven, Rich Ensoll and Johan Hoving officially became the first people ever to circumnavigate the Island of Ireland in a traditional corracle-style canoe - a feat of endurance, adventure, and determination that now sits proudly in the annals of expedition history.

They proved adventure isn't just about records, it's about courage, determination, slowing down, and discovering new connections with nature, community, and yourself.

"You don't have to be brilliant to make your dreams reality just good enough to start them"

Their handmade canoe Ronan, carried them through a reminder that we are all capable of more than we imagine.

Their journey also raised funds for inclusive access to the outdoors in South Lakes via Keppelwray's Participation and Inclusion Fund & for Oxfam Ireland's fight against poverty.

So here's the challenge:

Don't just follow their story. Write your own. Adventure begins the moment you step outside. https://www.itv.com/watch/news/over-the-irish-sea-two-men-in-a-boat-ready-to-become-history-makers/kydsqrf https://www.canoeingroundireland.com/