Kite the Channel
In Support of The Special Boat Service Association
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| Blog.......... |
November 2008 - :Organiser Andrew Ward
Decides to Raise money doing a charity kite surf challenge crossing from Cherbourg to Poole |
| January 2009 : Andrew Ward researches other kite surf crossings and collects all the information needed to start the planning phases of the challenge |
February 2009 : Presentation on the 'Challenge Objectives' given to the SBSA |
March 2009 : Launch of Website www.kitethechannel.co.uk Meeting with HM Coastguard Portland to seek advice on Safety aspects 12/03/09 Decision made to change launch beach from Cherbourg to Alderney. Too many anticipated boundaries to cross in gaining permission to leave France JustGiving.com registration made by the SBSA in order that this site can accomodate a link to JustGiving.com and an events page can be created- this will allow a simple method for all those who would kindly like to donate/sponsor this challenge - now achieved ! 17/03/09 |
April 2009 : Training/Endurance runs 17th April - Daily Echo ran a story on the Challenge & various radio interviews took place in the evening
21st April - The Guernsey Press ran a news story
With thanks to www.thisisguernsey.com 24th April - Rome was not built in a day ! 1st of Endurance runs starting with a small one! Set off from Hengistbury Head tacking back and forth from North west to South West on a South Easterly wind of 15-20 knots - Shaun's GPS read total distance = 31.2 Nautical miles. Departed Hengistbury Head at 1340hrs and arrived at Sandbanks at 1515hrs. Average speed approx 19 knots. (see gallery for vid) 24th April - Sandbanks to Hengistbury Head in 24 minutes (see gallery for Vid) |
May 2009 : Start long distance endurance runs.. Dorset coastline then Lyme bay to Portland May 14th 2009 BBC Feature brief coverage on BBC Channel Islands
May 15th 2009 BBC Radio Guernsey 93.2 FM Live Radio Interview
Click here to listen to BBC Guernsey Radio Interview.
Click 'BBC' to see BBC News Website report on the challenge May 18th 2009 PoolePeople.co.uk |
May 21st 2009 - New Cabrinha Crossbow IDS Kites, Caliber board, seat harness and wetsuit arrive from
Please see our links page for full details of the kit to be used for the challenge May 31st 2009 - 2nd Meeting with HM Coastguard to review safety plan |
June 5th-7th 2009- Flew to Alderney to carry out reconnaissance of Beaches and met Harbour Master for further advice and guidance on local considerations and shipping lane traffic
ITV Reported the Challenge
June 10th 2009 - Attendance by Invitation to the SBSA 65th Anniversary Appeal Royal Reception at Buckingham Palace Hosted by His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh (this helped promote the charity challenge) - Andy met HRH Duke of Edinburgh and told him of his challenge. The Duke told Andy he was Barmy but brave and there is one born every minute. Andy also met Gerry Halliwell at the Duke's 88th Birthday at the anniversary reception and she thought the idea was a great way to raise money for the charity.
June 27th 2009 - Confirmation from
that they will provide RIB support for Training and the September Crossing - Their time and provision of RIBS is very much appreciated and given in sponsorship to this Charity Challenge
July 1st 2009 - Promoted the Charity Channel Crossing in the Dolphin Shopping Centre Poole. Had a chance to meet many locals and visitors and share our planning and progress so far. Another date booked in for the Dolphin Centre for September 5th 2009.This will be just days before the crossing.
Gordon thinks it will take 7 hours and 4 minutes to do the crossing ! |
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July 6th - YM Yachting took us south of the Isle of Wight Needles on their RIB where we attempted a kite launch. The swell consisted of 3m+plus rolling waves and a good 30 knots of wind gusting to 35+.
The kite was succesfully inflated with the lines already attached but the conditions prevented a successful launch and the attempt was aborted on safety grounds plus the lines got caught in the propellor.
Plans will be made to perform a kite launch from Sandbanks beach in the near future where the team will walk out to the RIB and the kite surfer will kite off-shore into the channel a few miles and then perform a self rescue and then climb aboard the RIB.
A big thanks to Tom Herring - Video camera man, Julian - Kite Handler, Sam - Kite Handler and Russ from YM Yachting for their time and hard work. Some footage of conditions will be uploaded in due course.
July 22nd - YM Yachting took us out for a run into the English Channel. Johnny came along today and helped with the kites on the RIB and Tom Herring took some video footage. YM Yachting picked up Johnny and Tom by Sandbanks chain ferry and Andy Ward kite surfed from Sandbanks beach 10 miles out South East from Sandbanks followed by the RIB. The Wind ranged from 15-25 knots (SSW) out in the channel and the swell was 3m +.
Andy kite surfed back within a mile of Sandbanks and performed a kite self-rescue activating the absolute depower. Andy then swam to the kite securing the lines around his bar and then the RIB collected him and his kite/board. This was a successful training exercise and was good to get use to kite surfing in large swell. Thanks to Russ, Johnny and Tom for all their help.
See our Gallery page for footage of our day out.
August 10th 2009
Bournemouth Echo feature our latest training
August 30th-31st 2009
Held a Fundraising Stand at Poole Park Festival to help promote the Kite the Channel Challenge
The Revd Charles Meachin Mayor of Poole offers his support
Legend World Pro Guy Cribb offers his support & advice
4th September - Team Meeting held to review the weather forecast ahead. Currently unlikely that there will be sufficient wind and from the right direction for dates 7th-13th September. We will continue to review this and post on our blog page as soon as we get the right conditions for the crossing.
11th - 13th September - Animal Windfest at Sandbanks
Sponsorship aquired from Predator World for x2 loan Predator VX360 Rugged-waterproof action cams to
go into the kite for an arial view and on one on the headzone helmet
Tuesday 22nd September 2009
The crossing took place :- Success - departed Alderney at 0930hrs and arrived at Sandbanks approx 1530hrs
Click below links to see their Coverage of the Crossing !
