In March 2011, Riaan took on his next challenge – mystical Iceland and her Arctic waters – with a partner, Dan Skinstad, who has mild cerebral palsy. 'Around Iceland on Inspiration' saw the two paddle 2,300 km to circumnavigate Iceland in a double sea kayak over a five-month period.
Only after they had begun their circumnavigation did they realise how challenging the weather would be. They knew the inclement winter weather would cause delays, but they could never have predicted how often and how long these delays would be.
Landings were another of the pair’s biggest challenges. Approaching rocky shores pounded by wind and surf is a hazardous business. Between timing and luck, you’re a second away from disaster at any moment. Their landings were made even more difficult because of their 'sea legs', which they would develop after a long day’s paddle of eight to ten hours. Often, even the softest landings would result in them spluttering and crawling on all fours for a few moments on the black sand after tumbling out of the boat.
As the long days of summer arrived, the pair began paddling through the night. This proved to be a successful strategy, although it messed up their sleep patterns.
On 5 September 2011, blistered and aching after paddling for 147 days, they arrived back at their starting point – their circumnavigation complete.
