Billionaire Richard Branson attempts to break kite-surfing records and fails

Billionaire Richard Branson once decided that he wanted to become the oldest person to cross the English ..

11:42 03 July 2012

Billionaire Richard Branson once decided that he wanted to become the oldest person to cross the English channel by kite-surfing and to cross it with a kite-surfing team in the shortest amount of time recorded. After both attempts, however, he unceremoniously failed. Nevertheless, the successful entrepreneur still popped a bottle of champagne open on Folkestone Beach in Kent. 

 

For the second attempt, Sir Richard was accompanied by his group. They all attempted to kite-surf from Wilmereux in northern France all the way to the Kent coast in two and a half hours. Halfway through, however, Sir Richard had to turn back due to problems with his kite. The trip would have been a 30-mile jaunt. 

 

Sam, Branson’s son, joined his father together with some of Branson’s nephews and friends. 

 

To make up for his father’s failed venture, however, Branson’s son is currently the record holder for being the fastest person to kite-surf the channel. He made the trip to Folkestone in just two hours and 18 minutes, breaking the former 1999 record by a mere 12 minutes. Sam also recently announced his engagement to girlfriend Isabella Calthorpe. This, on the other hand, is a cause for a celebration for Sir Richard and his family. 

 

Sir Richard, now 62, is still determined to make another attempt depending on weather conditions. Kite-surfing is one of his favorite sports. “My plan is to congratulate my son and give it another go tomorrow. I would like to finish the job off. It would have been lovely to have reached the finish line as planned.”