Channel Queen Head Skipper - Roy Beal

Roy grew up on boats and is passionate about the Jurassic Coast, the Isle of Wight, Kayaking - especially Safety Kayaking for swimmers, Boating, Navigation, Open Water Swimmers, the Channel Queen boat and Marine Conservation and Education.

He is full of energy, has an incredible work ethic, takes immense pride in delivering high quality work and swimmers just love him! 

He has a 30-year background as Master Auto-electrician and manages the day-to-day mechanical and electrical needs of the boat. Interestingly, Channel Queen has two one tonne truck engines (260hp caterpillar engines) propelling her so Roy is very familiar with looking after these machines. He is an incredible asset to Channel Queen swim activities. 

His expedition solo kayaking challenges have provided him with a strong base for his navigational and tidal planning skills. This has been further honed by his planning and support kayaking for Oly Rush's 160km Jurassic Coast swim in 2020 plus Roy's 15hr non-stop kayaking next to Oly for his Wetsuit Speed Record Isle of Wight 2021 swim (circa 90km). Roy also has mass event swim kayak safety experience supporting The Scilly Swim Challenge 2021 (multi day swim event) and various other swim events, mainly around the Jurassic Coast, including the 2022 Channel Queen swim season which included two Isle of Wight Relay Circumnavigations as lead kayaker and navigator.  

In 2022, as Head Skipper on Channel Queen, he meticulously planned and skippered Chloë's Hurst Castle to The Needles 6km swim through very strong tidal flows which saw her swimming at a max speed of 11kph, skippered Mark Critchlow, a legally blind swimmer, who wanted to have a bespoke swim experience finishing at Durdle Door and skippered the Charity Needles swim where he was in charge of 10 swimmers and three other crew looking after the swimmers. 

Roy is currently upgrading his skippering skills and organising Kayak and Crew safety training for 2023 Channel Queen activities. 
Roy is also the founder and Director of Clean Jurassic Coast (CJC). CJC are committed to keep the Jurassic Coast clean through regular beach cleans and education so that the vast array of wildlife get to live in their natural environment, millions of visitors may enjoy it and future generations can marvel at its history for ever more.

 

Channel Queen Skippering Experience

  • Chloë's Hurst Castle to The Needles 6km swim through very strong tidal flows (Hurst tidal race)
  • Mark Critchlow's Durdle Door bespoke swim experience. Mark is a legally blind
  • Charity Needles Swim where he was in charge of 10 swimmers and three other crew looking after the swimmers, through very strong tidal flows (Hurst tidal race). £700 raised for charity!
  • A return trip from Southampton to the Channel Islands in October 2021, co-skippering with Chloë (including through the treacherous Alderney tidal race). Total distance: 471km (292mi) across the English Channel!
  • PLUS other skippering hours in various sea / weather conditions

 

Swim Safety Kayaking Experience
  • Lead Kayaker on three Isle of Wight Swims (two relays and one solo)
  • The Scilly Swim Challenge 2021 (multi day swim event)
  • Fay Edgar adventure swims on the Jurassic Coast
  • PLUS various lake, river and sea events including the British Torbay Swim and many Outdoor Swimming Society events

 

Other Kayaking Experience
  • John O'Groats to Land's End (first person to do this solo & unsupported) in 56 days in 2021, including through the Bristol Channel
  • London to Seaton 2016 (21 days)
  • Seaton to Land's End 2013 (8 days)
  • 95 mile Jurassic Coast in under 24hrs

Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) Experience

  • Extensive experience driving 3 - 4m RIBs, 2.5 - 25hp
  • RIB water safety driving on the two Channel Queen Isle of Wight Relays in 2022
  • Head Skipper for four Head2Head swims (across the entrance to Sydney Harbour), including Chloë's double crossing

Qualifications
  • National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) Silver National Navigation Award
  • International Sea Kayak Guide Alliance (ISKGA) Level 2 
  • British Canoeing Swim Event Safety Award Course (SESA)
  • Royal Yacht Association (RYA) RYA Day Skipper
  • Royal Yacht Association (RYA) Sea Survival
  • Royal Yacht Association (RYA) VHF/DSC (SRC) Radio
  • ML5 - Successful completion of Medical Fitness Test for commercial skipper work in the UK
  • British Canoeing Marine First Aid