For years the father of modern kayaking and canoeing has always been acknowledged as John MacGregor but the following extract from the newspaper "The Jersey Loyalist" which was published on the 17th May 1830 makes interesting reading when one is considering the early developments of the sport.

Navigation Extraordinary - There has been exhibited this week, at The Three Tuns Inn, near the South-pier, a curiously made boat, or rather canoe, built by and belonging to Mr Canham, engineer of London. It is formed much like an Icelander's caiak, consisting of a light wooden frame work, covered with tarred canvas; its extreme length is ten feet and its width two; its depth about twenty inches. The bottom exactly resembles in shape the bely of a mackarel, and the rudder is formed like the tail of a fish. At one end is a receptacle for containing provisions, and at the other one for holding congreve rockets, to be used in case of a shipwreck. It is propelled either by oars or sails, - we are told with great velocity; and by a long bag filled with inflated bladders being fixed on each gunwale it is perfectly secure from upsetting. The owner of it sits in the centre, and manages the helm by thill ropes, he is defended from the spray by a covering of tarred canvas, but so light a body causes very little splashing, so that, in fine weather we do not doubt but that he has a safe if not agreeable conveyance. He crossed last week from Cherbourg to Alderney, and, we are told intends proceeding hence to Jersey, and from thence to Portsmouth, in this frail bark. We think, however, he needs "robur et aes triplex circumpectus, " to make this daring attempt.
A man who saw him approaching Alderney, could not conceive what was coming; and instead of staying to assist the debarkation of this bold mariner, precipitately took to flight; probably apprehending the descent of some marine monster on that peaceful little isle.

So when MacGregor was only 5 years of age and 35 years before he had his first canoe built there is evidence of someone crossing from the Cherbourg peninsula in France to Alderney, the most northerly of the Channel Islands. It is an open crossing of 8 nautical miles and experiences tidal streams in excess of 9 knots with significant areas of overfalls. Even with current technology such as GPS, weather forecasts and modern kayaks and paddles, it is a paddle which is rarely completed.
The article leaves many questions unanswered:
1) How did he get to Cherbourg originally? Did he cross from the south coast of England?
2) Did he reach Jersey as he planned?
3) Did he manage to paddle back to England?
4) Where did he get the design from for his "Icelander's caiak"
5) The "receptacle" which are mentioned, are these the original version of modern hatches?
6) Congreve rockets were developed by Sir William Congreve in 1805 for the British Army. The were used in the Napoleonic war and in 1814 the British used them in the bombardment of Fort McHenry in the United States which inspired the the line in the US National Anthem "And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air". Nowhere does it seem to mention that they could be used in an emergency on the sea. Clearly Mr Canham had every confidence in his "receptacle" which held the rockets being waterproof.

Braye Harbour
Braye Harbour, Alderney. This is where the kayak was on display

A stretch of the Alderney coast, which Mr Canham may have to paddled.

If anybody has further information about this early sea kayaking expedition we would appreciate being contacted.

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