Records

Thames River Records

Record-breaking paddles, record-setting paddles, and attempts at record paddles. Check out the Thames River Records page to track the current records of the length of the Thames for each craft class and gender.

Stories

Exciting stories of records and record attempts from the Thames, around the UK, and around the world.

Pilgrim of the Tides

On the one year anniversary of Mike Lambert’s departure to circumnavigate Britain by surfski kayak, Paddle Daily celebrates the launch of his documentary “Pilgrim of the Tides” by revisiting Mike’s story.

New record: crossing the North Sea in December

Billy Butler couldn’t let 2024 pass without going for one last record. Crossing the North Sea in December? No problem. He set off from Margate, in Kent (UK) towards De Panne, Belgium before sunrise. The record was 17.5 hours. Billy crossed in under 10 hours. But 2024 has just been the warmup for Billy…

“I’m not addicted to records. Or am I?” 16 hours down the Thames

3:30 am. Lechlade-on-Thames. It’s pitch black, and the river’s glassiness betrays how fast the water is racing. Billy Butler likes records. “I’m not addicted to it. Or am I addicted to it? I don’t know,” Billy pondered the night before setting out for another record. His attempt to set a new solo kayak record down…

The most hotly contested circumnavigation record?

Only about 20 kilometres around and easily accessible along the south coast of the UK, circumnavigating Hayling Island in the sunshine would make for a good day out on the water even if you weren’t part of the heated battle over the record. On Friday 18th October, the sun came out for a couple of…

58 days later: The end of an epic circumnavigation

58 days after he paddled away from East Wittering Beach into a serene Saturday sunrise, Mike Lambert returned to the same exact point with a “cocktail of very confusing emotions.” Mike shares his journey home from Thurso, what that last day felt like, how he’s adjusted back to ‘normal’, and what’s next since this life…