Just seen this on the BBC site:
quote:
A 26-year-old has succeeded in windsurfing across the English Channel in less than 90 minutes.
James Potten, from Yeovil, completed the 21-mile trip on Friday, in just one hour and 24 minutes.
On Thursday, he and two friends - Londoner David Schickler, 25, and Andy Bramah, 25, from Weymouth - had attempted the crossing but were forced back just five miles from Dover by high winds.
Windsurfers are believed to have crossed the Channel before but no official attempt has taken place where coastguards are notified on either side of the water.
'Charity and fun'
The friends got into difficulty on Thursday when the wind caused them to drift apart.
As a consequence they opted for one windsurfer to try the challenge alone.
The group hopes Mr Potten's achievement will now make an entry in the Guinness Book of Records, but Schickler said the main aim of the stunt was for "charity and fun".
Schickler, who drove the safety boat, said his friend reached an average speed of about 20mph and would have finished with a faster time were it not for ships blocking his path.
Mr Bramah was unable to take part again due to work commitments so the two remaining friends decided to let Mr Potten make the attempt as he was "better suited to the conditions".
All three friends are directors of the Student Windsurfing Association and hope the trip will raise several thousand pounds for Children in Crisis, a charity which raises money for youngsters in war-torn countries.
Apperently, Kirsty Jones(v.v. good kite surfer from Pembrokshire) is attempting the English Channel too, Im not sure if she'sdone it or is about to. She has already competed the Irish sea(from Wales to irland, kite surfing). She also joint owns a Kite Surfing School in Pembrokshire, something on the lines of Blue Line?
Good on 'em!
I used to work on Cross Channel Ferries, and can safely say that crosing the channel REALLY IS the nautical equivalent of trying to
cross the M25! Not surprised to hear that ships got in his way.
How long does it take in a ferry?? Less than 90 minutes sounds quite fast, although I heard they were expecting to do it in under an hour.
Saw the guy set off on the successful attempt (after pottering around in the harbour for 15 mins or so) I think he was on a slalom
type K-bay and 7.5 meter. The support boat was of the ex-camel trophy variety together with "roll over cage"!
he wont have been the first to cross the channel. I met a French guy about 10 years ago - who arrived from the horizon landed, asked
where he was and then dissapeared back over the horizon.
On a sunny days guys also sail around the South Goodwins lightship.
I've heard about Mad Frenchmen being picked up by the Coastguards after stopping for a cigarette whislt windsurfing across the Channel
too!
Al.
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