Freya Hoffmeister, the first person attempting to voyage around South America in a kayak arrived on Friday at the Stabroek boat house in the Demerara River.
A release from the Government Information Agency (GINA) said that Kemie Williams, Senior Administrative Officer of the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) witnessed the arrival and extended a Guyanese welcome to the kayaker from Germany.
Speaking about her experiences kayaking around South America, she said that apart from the excitement, there were challenges… “It’s harder every day to travel against wind and current. My boat was slightly damaged, but thank God, I’m still alive and okay,” Hoffmeister stated, noting that her major challenge had been travelling around Cape Horn.
GINA said that Hoffmeister, a world recognised kayaker, born May 10, 1964, is a German business owner and athlete, who holds several sea-kayaking endurance records. On August 30, 2011 she began her attempt to become the first person to solo circumnavigate the continent of South America, intending to complete the trip before her 50th birthday. She started the first stage of her journey in Buenos Aires, Argentina, ending in Valparaiso, Chile, eight months later. She then returned home for four months.
Her blog said that she continued on the second stage of her adventure in September 2012, paddling north past Peru and Ecuador, crossing the equator, passing Colombia to paddle through the Panama Canal. On 3 May 2013 she reached the northernmost point of South America: Punta Gallinas, Colombia. She had planned to journey on to Guyana but changed her plans as she was exhausted. She returned to Germany to recuperate and take care of pressing business.
On 16 August 2013 Hoffmeister launched her sea kayak to resume the second stage of her adventure “Around South America,” near the Colombian/Venezuelan border. She paddled along the Venezuelan coast, going on shore at times for a break. Maracaibo and Caracas were among the places she visited. She also went to Trinidad before heading back along the Venezuelan coast to Guyana, stopping at Shell Beach, Pomeroon River mouth, Wakenaam and Leguan Islands. She will be taking a break, returning to Germany and will resume her voyage in January 2014.
Her previous records were made in 2007, when she and Greg Stamer completed the fastest-ever sea kayak circumnavigation of Iceland in 33 days; and in 2009, when she completed a solo circumnavigation of Australia unassisted, becoming the first woman and only the second person to do so.
