Record bid by Sellafield kite-surfers

Friday, 1 October 2010 In what appears to be a world first, a group including Sellafield employees Stuart Wood and John Flinn, as well as decommissioning contractor Nick Elliot, successfully kite-surfed the 180 kilometres from Cloghy, Northern Ireland to Silloth, England. The trip across the Irish Sea took over nine hours has been submitted to the Guinness Book of Records for consideration. This was the second time the friends had attempted the feat - poor weather conditions had led to a similar exploit being cancelled. Upon arriving in Silloth the team was sprayed by champagne and welcomed by a crowd including the town's mayor. This more than made up for a torturous journey, which the group admitted had taken longer than expected - approaching the 'worst case scenario'. The group thanked Graviton, DBD Nuclear, Brokk, Focus Scaffold, Steve's Paints, Stobbarts, Nuvia and Boultings for financial support, which went to charities the Royal National Lifeboat Institute, the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children and Maryport Inshore Rescue. When asked what occupies one's attention while at sea aboard a kite surf for nine hours, Stuart Wood answered - "Home, my wife, my kids – beer!"