Foil the Wight challenge completed in under seven hours

A world champion windsurfer has set the standard in the new Foil the Wight challenge.

Ross Williams became the first man to wing foil non-stop around the Island in 6hrs 49mins 18secs on Thursday to set a record he hopes will be a huge challenge for all comers in the years ahead, according to the Isle of Wight County Press.

The 55 nautical-mile circumnavigational challenge was initiated by the Island Sailing Club.

“It was a brutal day on the water. The beat up the Solent was a hard grind. When I turned the corner at The Needles, I rode the waves all the way to Culver,” says Williams.

Williams was attempting the challenge in memory of his late father, Ceri, and raising money for Hasag, the asbestos disease support charity.

Competitor Tom Court won the start, and the men battled up the Solent, beating with the tide in Force 4-5 winds.

Williams was first to reach The Needles and turn the corner, with his fellow wing men about a mile behind. Competitor Sam Light used his experience of the Round the Island Race to hug the shoreline and get out of the tide, making up plenty of ground on Williams.

“The surfing was epic off my backyard breaks at Bonchurch, Dunnose and Bembridge Ledge, but as Seaview, the breeze died and I lost foil pressure,” says Williams.

“I thought we were done, but I found some puff to get past the forts, then it was about holding on and staying out of the tide.

“I knew my father was there in spirit for the last push to the finish.”

Image courtesy of Paul Wyeth.