THE ROUTE
The route is approximately 17Km leaving from Tarifa port at 9am and heading in a South Easterly direction intending to make landfall slightly west of Ceuta. Estimated time for crossing is 4 hours. Hazards will be currents, tides, shipping and other sea going animals llike whales and dolphins who may be curious to have a look at us.
This event is the inspiration of Guy Leleu who will head the expedition with the help of able seaman Ian Ingram (alias Captain Bird's Eye), along with Colin Coleman who will captain the support boat, accompanied by the Spanish Cruz Roja in accordance with regulations
OUR PADDLERS, SO FAR: CLICK ON A PERSONS NAME TO SPONSOR THEM
GUY LELEU Guy lives in Estepona and is currently Head of Sports at Aloha College
SOPHIE GATWARD A Year 10 student at Aloha College and working in the Butterfly Children's Charity shop in her time off. Feels passionately for the cause and loves a challenge !
MICHAEL GATWARD A Year 9 pupil at Aloha College, Mikey heads for the sea with his kayak whenever he can. He is already preparing his muscles for the event.
ARJAN NOORDENDE Originally from The Netherlands, now living in Coín with Michelle. Systems Architect and outdoor enthousiast, in particular mountaineering. Hopes his maritime survival skills can help raise money for the Butterfly Children.
ARIANE PIEPER & JOHN HARROWSMITH Ariane and John have been travelling around Africa in a Land Rover with their 20-year old cat...and are now looking forward to a new challenge!
IVÁN CORDÓN Faithful to all sports that involve any aspect of nature and to good causes, the crossing of the Straits of Gibraltar in a Kayak for the Butterfly Children is the perfect combination!
NACHO BAANANTE Sponsor him! Since his first attempt at riding a bicycle without the stabilisers (and without a helmet), he has never confronted another challenge so exciting as this one. He likes water as much as an abysinian cat, the nearest sea/ocean to his home is 400 kilometres away and his favourite sport is the parallel bars in the pub! Without a doubt the participant you could bet on failing….if it weren´t for his kayak colleague who is the most experienced salesman of the worlds 43 seas and 5 oceans.
ALEJANDRO RAMÍREZ Support a good cause! When finding out that the abysinian cat was going to cross the Straits, the Saint Bernard of the seas (from the high lands of Asturias) accepted the mission to take him to a safe port....With the fragile appearance of a ethiopian marathon runner but the strength of a true adventurer who has spent years discovering the worlds oceans, Alejandro has no doubt that he will successfully rise to this new challenge.
RAUL CAMACHO MARQUEZ The only contact he normally has with water is when the ice-cubes of his drink melt! Even though he is a chemist and helps people out with their prescriptions, he has prescribed for himself a very relaxed life, not involving much effort. However, when it comes to standing up to the challenge of crossing from Europe to Africa by kayak for such a good cause as the Butterfly children, he is willing to change his life commitment!
DAVID DE LA FUENTE VALDÉS Asturian by nature, he has a very close relationship with the sea. When he's not surfing the waves of the Cantabrian sea, he is swimming or doing a crossing somewhere. The place in which he finds himself most comfortable is without a doubt, the water. By successfully fulfilling this challenge, David hopes to help towards this worthwhile cause.
TRAINING SESSIONS
The first of 3 sessions is organised for August 2nd, 2008 starting at 8:30am from the pier in front of the Marbella Club Hotel. We will paddle from the Marbella Club to Puerto Banus and back at a relatively brisk pace. Finishing 11:00am.
JOIN OUR TEAM
We are on the look out for more riders - above 14 years of age, with a good level of fitness and some experience of kayaking. Particpants can ride in a two-seater Kayak, or use their own Kayak. Click here to contact us.
Our sponsors (so far) Click on a logo to visit their website.
