Raphael Wolf
South Africa broke the Guinness world record for the largest parade of kitesurfers at an event when 415 kitesurfers took part in the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada 2016 in Table View at the weekend.
Thousands of spectators lined the coastline between Dolphin and Doodles beach to watch the world-record attempt.
Hundreds of kitesurfers took to the water in ideal conditions.
The event started on Friday, the attempt to break the world record began at 1pm on Saturday and the record was broken by 3.30pm.
It will be verified by Guinness World Records.
Event director Dan Charlish said the weather played along perfectly.
“We always hoped the Kitesurfing Armada in Cape Town would be spectacular, and it didn’t let us down.
“It was an amazing day, the wind couldn’t have been better and the view of hundreds of kiters (kitesurfers) together in front of Table Mountain was awesome.”
Spain set the previous record of 353 kitesurfers in the Kitesurfing Armada last year.
This year’s event took place in fantastic conditions, with the kiting fans supporting the event and the atmosphere on Table View’s Dolphin and Doodle beaches was amazing, said Charlish.
He added that it took three hours to smash the world record, with a total of 415 kitesurfers completing the 1.6km course between Dolphin and Doodles beaches.
Local promoter Andre de Wet said it was satisfying to know the organisers had pulled off the event with an amazing team of sponsors and supporters, after 18 months of planning and preparation.
“It’s a fantastic feeling to know that we did it! Now we just need to retain the record every year,” De Wet said.
Many of the overseas kitesurfers who took part in the event are also expected to participate in the Red Bull King of the Air kitesurfing event taking place soon.
Launched in the UK, the first Virgin Kitesurfing Armada was started by Richard Branson with its aim of setting a new Guinness world record for the largest parade of kitesurfers and raising £70 000 (R1 288 000) for charity.
Since 2013, the event has been held annually at Hayling Island in the UK. In 2014, the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada Spain broke the record set in the UK.
The Virgin Kitesurfing Armada supports three charities, including local Cape Town organisation the Save Foundation, which supports township children through education and sports development.
Many of the young people they work with helped on the beach and with landing the kites.