1985

Japan - first solo circumnavigation

Paul Caffyn · Oceania

Caffyn's solo paddle around the four main Japanese islands. 4,400 miles, 112 days. Led to widespread publicity including (improbably) a 'nude' centrefold in a Japanese edition of Playboy.

In 1985 Paul Caffyn completed a 4,400-mile, 112-day solo paddle around the four main islands of Japan. This was another first and led to widespread publicity of kayaking in Japan, including - improbably - a 'nude' centrefold in a Japanese edition of Playboy. The trip is less known in Western kayaking circles than his Australia or Britain trips but is technically remarkable for the typhoon-season exposure and the navigation through some of the most heavily-shipping-trafficked waters in the world.