A family of kitesurfers from Exmouth yesterday (Thursday) set 2 World Records following their successful race around the Isle of Wight.
Team Volvo athletes, Steph, Olly and Guy Bridge raced around the Island on hydrofoil kiteboards, crossing the finish line in Cowes in record-breaking times – setting new records for the fastest single handed sailor and the fastest female round the Island.
16-year-old 2015 British Hydrofoil Champion Guy was the first to finish, with a time of 2 hours 32 minutes and 25 seconds. His older brother Olly, 18 – Vice World and European Race Champion – was hot on his heels, finishing with a time of 2 hours 32 minutes and 27 seconds. Their mother Steph – 5 times World Kite Race Champion – finished in 3 hours 3 minutes and 24 seconds.
Feeling positive and with the weather in their favour, the Bridges raced off the Royal Yacht Squadron line in Cowes just after 11:00, flanked by the 2 Mod 70 multihull boats – Concise and Phaedo3 – that will be trying to beat the Round the Island Race record this Saturday.
As the family raced past iconic locations such as the Needles and St Catherine’s Point, a tough battle ensued on the water. The 2 brothers fought it out for the top spot in a nerve-wracking drag race at speeds of 25knots on their hydrofoil kiteboards – boards fitted with large knife-like foils beneath them, designed to lift the rider clear above the water for increased speed.
It was Guy who emerged victorious though, setting a new record for the fastest single handed sailor around the Isle of Wight.
Speaking after his on-water triumph, he said:
“It feels amazing to have hopefully taken a new World Record today. My legs were burning – it was tough.”
Olly Bridge narrowly missed out on taking a World Record, finishing just 2 seconds behind his younger brother. Having led the whole way round the Island, Olly unfortunately hit a sand bank just off Ryde, holding him back by over 10 minutes. He said:
“I’m gutted but I’ve proven I’m fast enough to beat the overall record. I’m hungry to come back next year – watch this space.”
Crossing the line just behind her sons, Steph Bridge is hoping to have taken the record for the fastest female round the Isle of Wight. She added:
“Fingers crossed I’ve set a new record, but I’m actually just really glad to be back with the boys! When they overtook me on the first leg, it was a little bit of a negative but fortunately I had Concise to keep me busy! I won’t say it was really fun at the time, but it always feels really fun when you finish.”
The Bridges’ Round the Island World Sailing Speed Record attempt was sponsored by Swedish car brand, Volvo Car UK.
Nikki Rooke, Head of Corporate Communications, Events and Sponsorship at Volvo Car UK said:
“At Volvo, everything we do starts with people and that is why we are incredibly proud to support Team Bridge. Their passion for life and overwhelming desire to succeed was very clearly what drove them to achieve such great results in their attempt to Kitesurf around the Isle of Wight”.
The kitesurfing challenge precedes the J.P. Morgan Asset Management Round the Island Race – an iconic event in British sailing, of which Volvo Car UK is also a partner. The race will take place on 2nd July – Olly Bridge will board Mod 70 Concise in an attempt to break yet another World Record.
Featured photos: Lloyd Images
All records are subject to ratification by World Sailing Speed Records (WSSR)
