English Channel Record Crossing Attempt Delayed

07 June 2005

English Channel Record Crossing Attempt Delayed

Auckland, 07 June 2005: An attempt on the record for a crossing of the English Channel by an amphibious boat by the New Zealand designed and manufactured Sealegs amphibious craft has been delayed.

Sealegs founder Maurice Bryham had planned to make an attempt on the record tomorrow morning (NZ Time), but according to Sealegs Corporation managing director, David McKee Wright, this will now take place on June 20.

“ Anyone can cross the Channel, but to be eligible for a world record crossing there is a bit of paper work that is required,” he says. “ We want to make sure that when we break the record it will be officially recognised. So we just have to wait a little longer.”

The record for an amphibious crafft was set by English entrepreneuer Richard Brandson last June with a time of 1hr 40mins 6 secs. Sealegs is confident its 5.6m amphibious boat can make the Dover-calais crossing in less than half that time.

Bryham is predicting he will make the crossing—a distance of around 21 nautical miles, in under 50 minutes. Which explains why Sealegs wants to ensure all the paperwork is in order for the record attempt.

ENDS

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