A solo kayaker is to embark on an epic paddle to raise money for the RNLI.
Nick Ray’s voyage will take him 2,015 miles from Kippford on the Solway Firth to Eyemonth close to the borders.
On the way, he will visit all 47 RNLI stations in Scotland.
The 51-year-old was inspired to make the trip by the exploits Aberdonian kayaker and author Brian Wilson who made a solo sea kayak around the country in the 1980s.
Mr Ray said: “I have always wanted to emulate his adventure, and I have held on to the dream of kayaking around Scotland too.
“It occurred to me that it would be an amazing challenge to visit each of the 47 active RNLI lifeboat stations.
“In doing so, I would fulfil my ambition of a circumnavigation of the Scottish coastline.”
He will embark on his journey on May 1 and it will take up to four months to complete.
He hope to raise £5,000 for the RNLI and the kayak for his expedition – which he has dubbed 2015 in 2015 – has been donated by Sea- Kayaking-Scotland.
The journey could be quite physically demanding and Mr Ray does not want to put himself under any time pressure – as that could lead to making the wrong decisions in the potentially treacherous waters.
Mr Ray, who has been living on a yacht in the marina on the Isle of Kerrera, just off Oban, added: “I won’t be putting in huge distances a day and I will be camping during the journey.”
“I am fascinated by the connection coastal communities have with the sea and I want to understand more about the RNLI, its ethos and what motivates the volunteers to join the lifeboat.
“It is demanding, they are on call 24/7, 365 days a year, and it can be challenging with difficult rescues.
“There is also the possibility of physical danger, the emotion during a rescue, and yet they always demonstrate such professionalism.”
So far he has raised £755 towards his target and has been training regularly for his challenge.
You can follow Mr Ray’s preparation for the journey and the journey itself on his blog at
http://2015in2015journey.blogspot.co.uk/
.