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In September 2009 the first ever attempt was made to kite surf across the English Channel from Alderney to Poole.

Andy Ward tried to get in the record books as he travelled from Alderney to his home-town of Poole in Dorset, 70 nautical miles across the busy shipping lane.

Andy, who is a father of three, had been kite-surfing for three years, and was raising funds for the Special Boat Service Association which supports members and former members of the SBS and their families.

Andy on a coastal training run

The attempt took place in very specific conditions as Andy only had a maximum window of two sets of four days to complete the challenge, so it coincided with sufficient winds, maximum daylight and the favourable tides required to complete the crossing.

Andy completed the crossing on 22 September 2009 in a time of less than six hours (two hours less than his original estimates).

To prepare for the event Andy performed small coastal runs from Hengistbury Head to Sandbanks and back and forth totaling more than 42 Nautical miles.

He also did endurance runs further out to sea in May and a coastal run from Lyme Bay to Portland in June.

The crossing was delayed due to light wind conditions but was eventually successful and Andy said he was "exhausted, cramped up, but very elated - very happy" shortly after reaching Poole.