Welcome to the Bexhill to Camber Challenge!! Completed on the 29th August for W4Cancer Research raising over £1000 (cash total not yet collected from all).

The challenge covered the 22 Miles by sea by 10 windsurfers and kayakers. The true sailing distance was on Ian Crafts GPS 37 miles between Bexhill and Camber (landing East of Camber at Jury Gap) taking 3hours and 7 minutes.

For those who havent seen it see this weeks Observer for write up and pictures of the team (apart from those that were still rigging sails:) http://www.bexhillobserver.net/news/Surfival-tactics-give-boost-to.6509852.jp

SO it started out light and it was long slow sail to Hastings. After Hastings the windsurfers were well and truely whipped by the sea infront of Fairlight cliffs in solid Force 5 Cross offshore conditions. Where as the Kayakers had the cliffs to shelter them making it a flat water paddle to the other side.

The last section Sailing from the cliffs out to sea towards Camber was amazing! Flying in the middle of nowhere 2 miles out! All team got spilt up and the last leg was done by almost everyone alone and in an increasingly big sea.

The Kayakers had some heavy shorebreaks to contend with, some ditching their gear and doing a bit of swimming in the shorebreak. With the pushing tide and wind behind them the Kayakers were to the amazement of the windsurfers ahead for most of the way!

At Camber everyone was glad to be back onshore and safe! Food was supplied my pigs-do-fly (my folks) and enough stories were told!!

Its was great challenge and I think we all also got to enjoyed the sailing/ paddling along the way also. Maybe not so much the cliffs part! We even had Stewart Soffe turn up and paddle the first leg to Hastings on a surfboard! Great effort! Miles turned up and despite being on antibiotics! Great effort by Geoff and Eleanor for their challenge walking all the way from Winchelsea to meet us! Thanks to all who turned up and making it a great day, thanks for all for looking out for each and staying in one piece! Phew it got a bit hairy.

Time on kayak: 3.5hours! - 5 hours (fast)
Time on windsurfer: 3 - 4 hours (not bad)

Thanks to pigs-do-fly.co.uk for food, over-board.co.uk and epiclife.co.uk for prizes. And thanks for those who waited with me till 5pm until everyone was back and safe ashore! Thanks to W4CR charity for taking to time to support us what a great cause. We will raise money for you next year!

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NEXT YEAR!? Bexhill to Camber x2 2011.
WHAT, WHERE , WHO!!? Its long way off but I'll give you clue... Twice the fundraising, twice the distance!! Stick it in your diary now for August bank holiday 2011.


If you havent seen the photos and videos take a look on the page. I'll post some more up soon. Remember the justgiving page is still open and there are still plenty of online donation coming thorugh so dont stop now!

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.justgiving.com%2Fbexhilltocamberchallenge&h=3999exHqRCd2JNYY5A9oT1FzumA
(PAGE WILL BE OPEN UNTIL AUGUST 2011 WHEN)