British tycoon Sir Richard Branson on Tuesday was forced to abandon his attempt to kitesurf across the English Channel.
He had hoped to celebrate his 60th birthday by becoming the oldest person to cross the 24.4-mile English Channel by kite-board. He also wanted to set a second record by being part of a kite-board team making the fastest crossing across the channel.
“Kitesurfing is one of my favourite sports. I absolutely love the amazing rush you get when going at high speeds, in high winds, with the most beautiful kite acting as your only guide,” Sir Richard said before attempting his bid to make record books along with his children Holly and Sam.
The Virgin Group owner was aiming to set the records to mark his 60th birthday.
“I know that kitesurfing across the channel will not be quite the same as kitesurfing in the beautiful waters of the Caribbean but I can’t think of anything I rather do, with my family and friends, to celebrate turning 60.”
Sir Richard was forced to abandon his record-making attempt because of strong winds and a choppy sea. He set off with his children and others in the record attempt team from Dungeness in Kent, but had to return to the English coast because of the weather conditions after turned back after just above an hour.
“It was fantastic conditions for kiting but hellish conditions for the chase boats. The boats couldn’t have done it and it’s too dangerous for the kites to continue without them. We knew when we set off there was a risk of that,” Sir Richard said after abandoning his attempt. “We had a big argument with the boats as we did want to carry on, but in the end sense prevailed,” he added.
Earlier, he had said that his wife had objected to his plans. “My wife swears I get more barking as I get older — this year I’ve almost crippled myself running 26.2 miles in my first marathon and now I’m putting my poor 60-year-old bones through an arduous 24.4 miles, over water, hanging onto a giant kite! Joan could have a point!”
“But as Holly, Sam and my nephews will be doing it with me — at least I can claim the whole family is barking and at the end of the day they are Joan’s children as well — so she’s 50 per cent responsible!”