A team of 24 Royal Marines kayakers have arrived in Southsea after an epic paddle from France.They completed the 86-mile marathon in 26 hours as part of the RM1664 Challenge which marks the 350th anniversary of the Royal Marines and aims to raise thousands of pounds for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.Six of the men are doing the entire challenge from start to finish and have so far skied 1664 kilometres across Norway, sailed to Cadiz in Spain and cycled from there to Normandy.Lieutenant Colonel Dai Davies, one of the kayakers, said: “It was tough going with a couple of patches of bad weather, but naturally we pulled together and got through it. For the six team members who have done the entire challenge so far it was extra special because they left the UK just after Christmas and they are pleased to be home.”They were greeted at Eastney beach by fanfares and a display by musicians from the Royal Marines School of Music.Port-en-Bessin was where 47 Commando successfully stormed and captured the German-held port on June 6 1944, and the beach at Eastney is where the Cockleshell Heroes trained and is now home of the RM Museum.Among senior military officers greeting the team were Deputy General Royal Marines Brigadier Bill Dunham and Naval Secretary Rear Admiral Jonathan Woodcock.
The RM1664 Challenge started on February 4. The last phase – a 1664 km run across England, Wales and Scotland – starts on May 26 at the RM Museum and ends in London on July 25.
