FEARLESS sailor Pete Bray told this week how he crossed the stormy North Atlantic ocean in his kayak – the smallest boat ever to complete the epic journey.

Pete, who grew up in the Rame peninsula and whose mother still lives there, has single-handedly just completed the dangerous journey. In doing so he braved gales and the cold, obtained a world's first, and flew the Cornish flag throughout.

Pete crossed the North Atlantic, from St John's on the east coast of Newfoundland, Canada, to Belldderig in Ireland's Donegal Bay. He did so in his 27' kayak called 'The Newt.

Pete, an outdoor pursuits instructor, took up the challenge because it had never been successfully completed before.

Food supplies

A French team had attempted it, but failed, as had Pete himself, his crossing abandoned following problems with a valve.

On this occasion, however, a state of the art kayak was built to his specifications with the task in mind. The Newt was designed by Jason Rice, and built by Kirton Kayaks of Crediton, with the aim of being able to carry the food supplies, be self-righting, and enable Peter to sleep in her.

Pete explained that, despite crossing in the worst weather possible, the kayak was built so well that in her he ably tackled 40' waves which had been thrown up by the worst weather he could possibly have encountered at that time of year.

He said that on eight occasions while tackling the over 3,000 nautical mile journey he was thrown at right angles - five of these in one night - but never over-turned.

The crossing, which is aimed at raising money for two hospices, began on June 22, and ended on September 5.

It lasted 76 days, which fell well within the maximum 90 days Peter and the project manager, Jim Rowlinson of Leicester, had set. On arrival in Donegal Bay Pete was met by his mother, Florence, who had travelled there from her home in Torpoint to welcome him.

He is currently travelling around groups and organisations, with The Newt, talking about their achievement, and fund-raising for the hospices.

Coastguard

He hopes to visit a school in Torpoint, to tell the pupils there all about his adventures.

Pete said the Canadian coastguard told him he encountered terrible weather. In fact during his first 17 days he battled through eight storms and two gales.

Half way across he also had to tackle the fact that a hinge in the hatch leading to his dry cabin had broken.

In contact with his project manager he was linked up with a specialist who spent five hours explaining how he could make a new hinge out of the odds and ends he could lay his hands on in the kayak.

He was tracked throughout his journey by a communications system which worked off solar panels.

Pete, who used to be in the services and whose family lived in Antony and Millbrook in his formative years, said he flew the flag of St Piran 'from start to finish'. He has been paddling in kayaks since he was 11.

His mother said he seemed to be driven by the thought that such challenges are 'there to be done', and she was incredibly proud of all he has achieved.

Anyone who would like to donate to Pete's hospice appeal can contact the project manager on 01530 461204.