BRITISH adventurer Mark Evans is set to test the Qatari waters. Evans will hit the sea with a kayak to discover Qatar's coastline and to build awareness about the Red Crescent's work in the country.

Sponsored by AXA Insurance and the Qatar Marine Sports Federation, the expedition is supported by the Red Crescent. The “Be Life Confident Challenge” expedition will begin on March 31.

Evans will begin from the south-west, close to the border at Salwa. From there, he will be on his own in the water accompanied on land by Barry and Jean Hynes and photographer Martin Pfeiffer. He will travel north along the west coast before rounding the northern tip and heading south past Doha to end at the inland sea in the southeast.

“On calm waters I am able to travel at about 6kph, and aim to be on the water at 7am each morning, when the sea is usually calm, so enabling good progress early in the day,” Evans said.

Mohammed al-Jaidah, board member of the Qatar Marine Sports Federation said: “We are happy to be part of Mark’s adventure and hope the Qatar waters will carry his kayak safely towards his goal. We will be providing support wherever possible via the coast guard and look forward to celebrating with him once he finishes the expedition.” “First of its kind in Qatar, the ‘Be Life Confident Challenge’ is an extension of AXA's brand philosophy – Be Life Confident,” said Julien Audrerie, head of operations & marketing manager, AXA Insurance.

“The entire journey will take between 10 and 14 days and is dependent upon the weather, primarily the wind, so it is impossible to say when exactly it will finish. The kayak is silent and non-polluting, and will enable Mark to get close to all sorts of marine and other wildlife,” a spokesperson said.

Updates and photographs of the trip will be posted on the website www.axabelifeconfident.com.

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