Riders Gear up for Virgin Kitesurfing Armada

Virgin Kitesurfing Armada Breaking World Records 

Riders around the World are gearing up for the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada at Hayling Island. Kitesurfers will show up -once again to try to break a new World record and drive forward power sailing for the sport and for charity. 

On April 26 Virgin Kitesurfing Armada released the latest update for the event which will take over the UK Island again. 

In January the Armada broke once again the Guinness World Record for the largest fleet of kitesurfers riding the mile with a total of 415 riders in Cape Town South Africa. At UK it will take more than that to reach a new record. 

But Hayling Island will showcase more than just a massive fleet of kites. Big Air and other competitions, professional kitesurfing clinics, presence of top athletes and awareness and charity as well as a big show are scheduled on the water and on the beach. 

Rider Lewis Crathern -know for taking the event to successful levels and for his extreme kitesurfing style welcomed aboard Volvo Car UK which will act as the sponsor for the third year in a row. 

Kitesurfing Armada called for kiters to sign early and enjoy benefits. From June 17 to June 19 riders from around the World are expected to disembark in the island. 

“Bringing together kitesurfers and their families, the kitesurfing industry and the public for one awesome weekend, the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada promises three days of international kite brands, pro kitesurfers, kite films, music, bars, entertainment and fundraising,” the organisers assure. 

“Whether you’re a pro or you’ve never been kitesurfing, there’s something for everyone -including beginner sessions for those who want to give it a go,” the event calls. 

Lewis Crathern and Sam Light spoke to Virgin on the changes that this year's edition will see. On and off the water the list of events has taken new lengths.

Lewis Crathern added that clinics at the event this year include the foiling clinics with Steph Bridge, boosting clinics with himself, the Big Air competitions with WOO, Chris Bull´s race around the sandbar, freeriding for all kiters throughout the weekend and taster sessions for beginners in safe zones of the beach. Lewis added that prices are set for all competitions. Festivals and live music will take over the beach. 

Lewis Crathern has been inside the “mind and spirit” of the Armada since its early days. Kiteworld Magazine reported on how the Armada Movement rose to global levels. 

Dan Charlish and his friend Lewis Crathern were among the first to get involved in the event. Working hard on the kite community they managed to increase the participation and attracted the attention of Virgin. Virgin taking on the event boosted it to its global reach today. 

The Armada has done much for the sport of kitesurfing which -while today enjoys rather respect back in the day was viewed as a “renegade” sail sport. Kitesurf was denied participation in the Olympics for years and only now is it set to test olympic waters in the 2018 Youth Olympic Games. The sport managed to earn its deserved respect but never lost touch of its radical spirit. 

The Virgin Armada already ran three events in Hayling Island UK and two Internationally -including the recent Cape Town South Africa Event. In 2014 in Tarifa Spain the Armada tapped into the World Record establishing a total of 352 riders completing the record mile. 

“On January 30 (2016) Lewis Crathern sounded the air horn as the wind strengthened at the perfect moment for the forecasted start at 1 pm. 431 rider had registered (in Cape Town) -so everyone knew the record was there for the taking,” Kiteworld Magazine reported.   

"I have been a kitesurfer for many years and I have never seen the amount of kites laid out with such precision, the launch teams did a fantastic job to get everyone off the beach safely and the atmosphere was incredible. Everyone seemed to be beaming and they hadn't even got on the water yet" local event organiser Tyrone Rawlins from One Movement Events told the magazine. 

"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 could have been better and the view of hundreds of kiters together in front of the Table Mountain was awesome. A huge thank you to everyone who came down got involved and made the vent such as a success,” Kiteworld Magazine reported Dan's words at Cape Town. 

More of the same is expected in the UK. Charities for the coming event are as usual grouped under the Armada Trust. Virgin assures that the Armada has raised over 160 thousand pounds for charity and is going for more. 

“We love the idea of bringing together kitesurfing communities from across the UK and further afield, kiting together, breaking a World Record and putting on a fantastic kitesurfing festival that everyone can enjoy. But alongside this, the Virgin Kitesurfing Armada raises funds for a range of youth and rescue charities, via The Armada Trust. We have raised over £160,000 so far for good causes, and we want to do even more this year!” the Trust said. 

Lewis Crathern is deeply immersed the sport and all into the event. On April 19 through his Facebook page he continued to blast away follow ups on the developments of the World Kite League Stops. Having recently signed with Mystic International Team and playing hard into the King of the Air Lewis found home in Leucate France before the coming Round 3 of the World Kite League in Morocco. The World Kite League will move on to Canary Islands, Bozcaada, Germany, China and Brazil before the year ends. Top level kiters of the league are also expected to find their way to the Virgin Armada Hayling Island event. 

Virgin Kitesurfing Armada also called for anyone interested in breaking not one but two world records. 

“Fancy smashing TWO World Records this Summer?! If one World Record just isn't enough for you, join us at the Nielsen SUP Armada on 23rd July at stunning Bewl Water and bag your second!” organizers say. 

They explain that the first SUP Armada event was spontaneously born by a group of kitesurfers which after taking in the frustration of a no wind day on Hayling decided to go out and set a new World Record in Stand Up Paddle. That day they broke another world record! 

“Well the event has grown up into a proper festival with loads going on - so if you SUP as well as kite, or fancy giving it a try - come on down!”

The team of none other than Windguru will be present at Hayling Island ensuring that everyone hears about the event setting banners on the main page. 

“If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together," that's the slogan of the Armada. And as a Team they care for everyone at the beach, so safety is priority. 

“A number of well publicised incidents recently, including one involving a certain Lewis Crathern himself, have further increased the focus on safety and kitesurfing. The Kitesurfing Armada has a spotless record for safety which we intend to maintain, and we are taking even further steps this year to ensure we can continue to run an event like this with so many kitesurfers involved,” the organizers stated and kicks it saying...

“Safety boat support will be available on the water the whole weekend  -and additionally everyone will be receiving a Restube Sports safety device when they collect their rash vest.  These devices provide you with a personal inflatable safety tube should you ever need it -and whilst we understand it's extremely unlikely you will need to use it kiting in the bay at Hayling, it clips without any interference to your harness and as far as we are concerned anything that adds to safety is worth doing”.

Don't have your tickets? Get it out of the Water, Dry it out, Bag it and Pack and Gear up for Destination, if you can break another World Record and ride out for Charity.