When People Have Too Much Time

(December 6, 2017) – While the 2017-18 Volvo Ocean Race fleet rests in Cape Town, South Africa in anticipation for the start of the next leg on December 10 to Melbourne, Australia, Team Brunel skipper Bouwe Bekking sought to involve his team in a record-setting adventure.

Professional Danish kiter Nick Jacobsen set, together with Team Brunel, the world record for highest Kite Tow Up at 277 meters above sea level. The successful record attempt was done today on Table Bay in Cape Town.

Jacobsen, with the help of Team Brunel and their VO65, beat the old record of 244 meters set by Jesse Richman by 33 meters (see video). The old record, done behind a speedboat instead of a sailing yacht, was standing for over four years.

More than 500 meters of line was dragged behind the boat, where Jacobsen connected himself too. The speed of Team Brunel took care of the actual lift. Team Brunel member Kyle Langford, who is a fanatic kite surfer himself, was in control releasing the 800m line on the winch that connected Jacobsen to the boat. After reaching the maximum length, Jacobsen released the line and safely paraglided down to the water in 66 seconds.

The 30-year-old Dane, Jacobsen is no stranger to doing extraordinary things with a kite. In April this year he jumped off the third tallest building in the world, the Burj al-Arab, with a kite. He also won many big freestyle kiting events all over the world.