Intrepid sailors inspired by the Kon-Tiki expedition have paddled across the Broads from Norwich to Great Yarmouth. 

The volunteers, from charity the Papillon Project, travelled 27 miles on a raft hand-built from upcycled materials.

This fundraiser, coined 'The Pap Leeky Expedition', was inspired by the 1947 Kon-Tiki expedition led by Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl, who, along with his team, successfully crossed the Pacific Ocean from Peru to the Polynesian islands on a raft to prove that people from South America could have made the journey hundreds of years before.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The 'Pap Leeky', a raft built from recycled materials, crossing Breydon Water on August 20. The 'Pap Leeky', a raft built from recycled materials, crossing Breydon Water on August 20. (Image: The Papillion Project)

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The reclaimed raft, Pap (from Papillon) Leeky (after the vegetable), left Norwich Yacht Station with a crew of six and arrived at Great Yarmouth Yacht Station.

The raft stopped at Brundall, Cantley, Reedham and Burgh Castle before making the final journey across Breydon Water to Great Yarmouth.

More than twenty volunteers were involved in making the voyage possible.

Great Yarmouth Mercury: The Papillon Project volunteers at the finishing line in Great Yarmouth on August 20. The Papillon Project volunteers at the finishing line in Great Yarmouth on August 20. (Image: The Papillion Project)

As well as raising more than £5,500 to support three new school allotments in Great Yarmouth secondary schools, the ‘The Pap Leeky’ expedition also wanted to highlight the issue of rising sea levels globally, and to promote sustainable water usage.

The Papillon Project charity has developed school allotments in over 35 secondary schools across Norfolk.

Their ultimate goal is to inspire young people to grow their own food to help create a more sustainable future.

Charity founder and operational lead, Matt Willer, who won the national Royal Horticultural Society’s School Gardening Champion Year award in 2018, said: "Paddling from Norwich to Great Yarmouth was an incredible human experience, but, at the same time, it was extremely hard work and an enormous logistical undertaking.

"Despite the many challenges, what we achieved together was only possible because we worked as team and followed a clear and common goal.

"There’s certainly hope to solve very big world problems, such as climate change, when we truly work together as people.”