Ralph Crathorne says: “My daughters Lucy (21), Polly (16) and I (51!) made it across in 3 hours 40 minutes on 21st July. We think this breaks three records; as far as we can tell they are the first women to kitesurf across the channel; Polly is the youngest person to do so; and I think I am the oldest!”
The conditions were far from perfect with light and variable winds forcing the kitesurfers to work their kites up and down to generate enough power to keep them going. The Dover Strait is the busiest shipping lane in the world and they had to judge whether to let ships pass or to risk their kites ditching in front of them.
Lucy says: “It didn’t really sink in that we were actually crossing the channel until the half way point. I saw France in the distance and just thought ‘This is unbelievable!’ ”
Polly found the experience “completely exhilarating.” She added, “When I realised we were going to make it, I turned to Lucy and we just laughed.”
Having joked about a crossing for some months the dream turned into reality when a friend offered to provide a support boat.
Ralph said, “It was all a bit last minute. We aimed to go from Dungeness to Wimereux, but the currents and light winds forced us further south. When we saw the French coast we realised that it wasn’t just a crazy idea, we were actually going to make it. We reckon we’d covered about 30 miles before our kites ditched into the water along side the Boulogne Harbour walls. My wife Cally hauled us on board under the noses of the French Police, who were waiting for us on the beach, and we sped back to the safety of the UK shores. All in all, a good family day out!”
The family used Cabrinha Kites and Wizard kite boards to make their crossing. Polly Crathorne, who finished second overall in the Ladies Amateurs’ Freestyle section of the UK 2009 Kitesurf tour and is currently lying second in this year’s tour said “I’m really grateful to Wizard for their sponsorship. Their boards have helped me to my current position of second place in the Ladies Amateurs’ Freestyle section of the UK 2010 British Kitesurfing Association tour. We used Cabrinha Kites, which have also helped me to perform in competitions. I am really excited to have just been invited to become a UK team rider for Cabrinha.”
Editor’s note: The crossing was cleared with the UK Coastguard who was kept informed throughout. However by order of the Maritime Prefect of the Channel and the North Sea (Number 14/93) the French Maritime Authorities prohibit Crossings of the Pas de Calais by unconventional means and/or in unorthodox craft.
