A team of intrepid Manx adventurers paddled to Scotland - and back the next day.

The group from the Adventure Club IoM kayaked to Scotland on Saturday afternoon, setting off from the Point of Ayre at midday and landing at the Isle of Whithorn at 5pm.

They camped overnight - having called in at the Steam Packet Inn - and made the return open crossing on Sunday morning.

They landed back at the Point of Ayre after a gruelling seven-and-a-half-hour paddle from Scotland.

On their trip they encountering dolphins, pods of porpoise, puffins and spectacular shades of grey sea mist.

Co-leader Tim Cass said: ’It’s a tremendous achievement!

’Low visibility meant paddling on compass bearings, calculating the tidal flows and it took seven and half hours on the way back.’

A pair of puffins circled the group on the way over, and again on the way back.

The mission was led by Keirron Tastagh and Tim Cass, both coaches at Adventurous Experiences, and fellow club members Lucy Partington, Gerry McGarvey, Becky Crease, Rowan Grundey, Tim Cross and Martin Dycher.

Becky said of the open crossing: ’To arrive on a beach, knowing it’s all human energy that has carried you across the sea is a powerful feeling.

Crossings

’We all worked hard through the crossings, which makes the sense of achievement of this team goal all the more sweet.

’A huge thanks to Keirron for the challenge, the training and the opportunity. What an amazing experience!’

Lucy said she thought she would find the feeling of not being able to see any land a little unnerving but it was so calming and tranquil.

Rowan said: ’I remember the feeling of exhilaration the first time I looked around and there was nothing to see but sea all around us, that was pretty special.

’The buzz of paddling around the rocks and landing our boats on the beach in Scotland was just such an amazing, surreal feeling!’

And Gerry said: ’As a Scotsman, I often travel back to my homeland. I’ve journeyed by aeroplane, ferry, car, train and bus but never by kayak.

’This was a unique and most memorable journey.’

The Adventure Club train weekly on the sea, receiving performance coaching in advanced conditions year-round, and regular peer paddling during the week as well.

Adventurous Experiences, the company which run the club, is a British Canoeing International Training Centre, attracting learners from all corners of the world, to train in the Isle of Man.

The crossing provided memorable learning opportunities, as the team prepare for their next challenge this month.