The Kite Surfer will need a consistant force 5 wind for the duration of the challenge and can afford a small drop down to the top of a force 4 and if he holds on hard can continue in a force 6. The team will have an adviser who will monitor the forecast towards the end of August looking for the 1st opportunity in September to make the crossing.

Beaufort Wind Scale

Careful Nautical Planning is essential to ensure the Kite Surfer crosses the channel in as much of a straight line as natures waters allow. The plan is to cross as early in September as the wind forecast permits. Once a date is chosen they will calculate the rate and direction of the tidal streams which will form a basis for them to plan a departure time. The most effective time to cross is when the Channel tide is in between changing from West to East(slack near Alderney). Careful Tidal planning will assist navigating across the 'Alderney race' where tidal currents are extremely strong.

Sufficient daylight hours must also be a top priority. Due to the anticipated time to cross the team will launch as early as possible. With all these considerations and calculations from our official adviser we have now calculated around 2 sets of 4 consecutive days in September 2009 when it would be ideal to cross considering Tides changing West to East(Slack) and enough daylight hours to reach the South coast (Ideally Poole). So to make this possible we would need sufficient winds on one of these 8 days - even if an October extension is needed we will do this challenge!

So with this in mind and ensuring the Wind Direction is sufficiently and consistantly in the right direction (with some allowance of change) this certainly is a challenge which has many bridges to cross in order for it to be a success.

(if only there was a bridge!)

It will be necessary for the rider and JM Yachting (RIB support) to be aware of the location of shipping lanes as in conditions of large swell the tankers and ferries can appear very quickly and are not in a position to maneouvre out the way of the team.The team will need to navigate through a shipping area as wide as 7 miles which will consist of Tankers heading east up the channel and then after another 5 or so miles come across another shipping area which again can be as wide as 7 miles consisting of Tankers heading west. Close liason with HM Coastguard and the use of GPS will ensure safety is of paramount importance. Other safety considerations will need to be met such as life jackets, Mini flare rockets, Dry Suits, Sea-me active radar detector... and more!

The support Team for the Kite Surfer will consist of Coxswains to pilot the RIBS and this has been provided by JM Yachting and immense thanks for their time for the practice runs and the actual crossing which has been given in Sponsorship to this Charity Challenge, Also 2 experienced kite handlers to assist in the event of rescue or replacing broken kit and a Camera & Video person and first Aider.

The person in charge on the day will be the Coxswain.

To see how busy the English Channel shipping lanes are, click on the 'BBC Britain from above' clip below.

The Spreadsheet below shows the best tide to launch when the tide close to

Alderney is near 'Slack Water' (Minimum current).

This is when in the followiing hours of launch the tide sets to the North East or East;

so that the stongest currents are tackled with the wind, avoiding wind against tide.

The spreadsheet below gives the times of High Water Dover, sunrise and sunset

for September.

(Assuming departure at HW Dover plus 5)

Click above for live Poole Harbour

Weather & Webcams

We would like to express our thanks to

Watch Manager

HM Coastguard

Nic Lonsdale

who has been

a god send in advice and guidance

in the Health & Safety planning and especially

his nautical knowledge for tidal calculations

over at Alderney !