WKC Finish Line Stats
Above image title “Dee Finish Line”; another image from the Wirral Kayak Challenge series. A shameless pun, most definitely intended. 😛
The BBQ put on by the wonderful Wirral Holistic Care Services team was something to behold: well done to all, you really held it together with the heat and the hunger generated by a total of 1320 cumulative miles paddled by the swarm of Kayakers!
Check these stats out:
The average calorific burn for a kayaker is 340 cal/hour. Let’s up that to 400 because of the heat, and add another 20 for the salty air, and bolt on an additional 20 for the added weight of lunch/kit people were carrying aboard.
Call it 440cal/hr. Sounds about right. Jogging is 238, according to the internet.
The challenge set off at about 09.30 and the average end was 18.30. That’s a total of 9 hours, minus (let’s say) 2.5 for the break on the sandbank beyond Hilbre Island. We’re balancing the calorie burn whilst in the heat there too.
That works out at 7.5 times 440, which is a total of 3,300 calories burned, per person and that’s only from the paddling activity! A total of 290 000 calories.
Crikey.
No wonder there was a queue for the Wirral Holistic Care Services barbecue! What an achievement!
Some other comparative statistics:
79 200 feet – the distance paddled by each kayaker
Total distance paddled: 15 miles from the start point at Wallasey Golf Club, across to West Hoyle Bank (beyond Hilbre Island by about 1.5km) and then to Dee Sailing Club, near Thurstaston Country Park/Caldy Golf Club.
10 000 – the average paddle number of strokes per participant
That’s 880 000 paddle strokes between the entire cohort! These are some big numbers! We’re not sure about paddleboarders, perhaps you guys would like to make a guess!
29 029 feet – Height of Mt. Everest
According to an article in the Independent, a climber burns 10 000 calories a day, which WKC participants were one third of the way towards by the end of the day!
Those who were sponsored for the event are urged to send in their stats – how much did you make for your charities?
We’d love to gather a grand total! All charities will be mentioned in a mega-post at some point too!
If you have any other fun statistics, like how many sandwiches you had for lunch, how many litres of water you drank, how many hours training you put in… let us know!
Post your stats over on our Facebook, and we’ll update this page and incorporate it into the mega post when we post it!
River Mersey Flight Training
This afternoon saw Drone Factor pilots flying over the River Mersey – our experience and knowledge of how to use the gear was paramount, but launching and landing on a tiny, moving target is still an exceptional challenge!
This was extremely interesting say the least! The weather was clement, and the wind not too high to make it impossible, but not too still to make it easy… In keeping with our already flawless track record, we had no incidents, and also had a little visit from the Ports’ Pilot boat, the brand new ‘Petrel’. What a lovely vessel… would work on that any day!
We set out from National Marine’s HQ near Eastham, and made way north towards the Liverpool Pier Head, passing Brunswick dock, Queens Dock, Exhibition Centre Liverpool, The Echo Arena, the Albert dock and the iconic pier head itself.
This is all in preparation for the Wirral Kayak Challenge, on the 24th June (just over a week away). We have to thank National Marine for providing the boat for us to practice on, and Peter for piloting it – and the brilliant team of the Kayak Challenge for organising this.
Luckiest Location Location Location
It’s safe to say that today was a hot one, and this sunset photograph is a nicely suitable way to remember it. The image above was captured this evening, as high tide and sunset coincided. A rare day where the golden sun over the Irish Sea showers over the evening strollers around the Marine Lake on the tip of the Wirral.
The funny shaped lollipop poking out of the water is a radar reflector,designed to be visible in all weathers to ships coming into the Port of Mostyn
Docks over the water on the North Wales coast, and the fishing vessels that come by from Heswall and Parkgate.
Wilson Trophy Day 3 – The Finals
It’s a still day, not much wind – this is when the skills these professionals have been honing for months or years come into the fore.
Can you maximise what little wind there is? Can you stay focused as the sun beats down on you? It’s all to sail for… may the best team win! Continue reading “Wilson Trophy Day 3 – The Finals”
Wilson Trophy Day 2
The Wilson has once again been blessed with wonderful sunshine!
We look forward to an exciting afternoon of racing, and tomorrow… the finals! If you’re not able to get to West Kirby today, do your best to come tomorrow (Sunday)… more sailing action to come! Continue reading “Wilson Trophy Day 2”
Wilson Trophy Day 1
Each year since the 1940s West Kirby Marine Lake has been home to the world leading Wilson Trophy: When the event started, team racing rules were not well defined and so special rules were drafted which form the basis of the rules which now govern dinghy team racing events all round the world.
This year we are being treated to 32 teams from the USA, Ireland and across the UK – Drone Factor wish everyone the best of luck! Continue reading “Wilson Trophy Day 1”