A group of ex-servicemen, with the help of Ultra Sport and Bic Kayaks, have battled the elements to retrace the journey undertaken by a group of marines whose objective was to destroy German shipping in WWII. The original mission, Operation Frankton, involved launching kayaks from a submarine to get in close to the ships at Bordeaux and was used as the basis for the 1955 film, The Cockleshell Heroes.
The current crop of Cockle Shell Heroes have retraced the path of the original group of marines to raise money for both the RNLI and Help For Heroes and Ultra Sport provided all of the kayaks and seagoing equipment they required for the trip. This involved paddling the original 70 mile stretch down the river followed by a further 20 miles to the extraction point, where they swapped kayaks for bikes and cycled the 100 mile route that the surviving marines took on their escape, known as the Frankton Trail, as a relay.
Having completed the journey, the team said: “The event went really well, the Bic kayaks performed brilliantly and have done so throughout. They were described as a river-fishing or touring kayak but they are much, much more than that!! We have used them in open water and in rough conditions with a swell height of around 5 feet and a sea height of around three feet and they’ve proven to be extremely stable, just what we needed. They have taken a few knocks along the way but again they have proven extremely robust with no major repair work needing to be undertaken. They are a great bit of kit!!”
Now that the challenge is complete, the team will be auctioning off the Bic Kayaks that they used, and the money will go towards the two charities. Details of this will be announced shortly.
Help For Heroes was set up to help the wounded service personnel returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. They are a non-political organisation and, in their words, ‘just want to help’. More information can be found at www.helpforheroes.org.uk
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. They get no help from the Government, relying completely on independent funding and a large group of volunteers to maintain a search and rescue service 24 hours a day. You can find out more by going to www.rnli.org.uk
If you’d like to know more about the event you can visit:
www.helpforheroes.org.uk/cockleshell_heroes.html or
www.farehamsfrankton.com/Home.aspx
Bic Kayaks and Ultra Sport Europe are set to help a group of ex-servicemen complete an extraordinary challenge as they plan to retrace the path of a WW2 mission to destroy German shipping in Bordeaux.
In December 1942, ten Royal Marines set out in five canoes to travel 70 miles up the Gironde River from out at sea, battling the weather, tides and shipping lines, as well as getting past enemy patrols. Only two of the men made it home – “Blondie” Hasler and “Bill” Sparks. The rest either drowned or were shot.
Now, a similar group of men will take on the challenge themselves, paddling the 70 mile stretch down the river, followed by a further 20 miles to the extraction point, where they will swap kayaks for bikes and cycle the 100 mile route that Hasler and Sparks took on their escape, known as the Frankton Trail, as a relay.
Ultra Sport and Bic Kayaks have got together with the team to support Operation Cockle Shell Heroes, by providing them with all of the kayaking equipment they need to complete the task.
The team said: “We have been given a massive boost with Ultra Sport Europe coming on board and giving us ALL the sea going kit we need. From kayaks…to wetsuits and hats. This we cannot thank them enough for!! We never dreamed a company would be so kind as to help out as much as these guys have.”
The boys are aiming to raise £60,000 for the Help for Heroes charity and RNLI, and will set off for France in June 2010.
After the trip, the team will be auctioning off the Bic Kayaks that they used, and the money will go towards the two charities. Details of this will be announced later in the year.
Here at Ultra Sport, we will be following the team as they go through training, and then through the event itself, so keep checking here for all the latest news on Operation Cockle Shell Heroes.
For more information on the event visit: http://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/cockleshell_heroes.html or http://www.farehamsfrankton.com/index.html
Sponsor the Cockle Shell Team at: www.justgiving.com/farehamsfrankton/
Click here to find out more about Help for Heroes, and the RNLI.