Brandt to kitesurf to Abu Dhabi today

Manama : Bahrain-based German kitesurfer Anke Brandt announced that she will attempt to kite 550km from Bahrain to Abu Dhabi today.

Brandt, who has been kiting since 2009, made waves last month when she kitesurfed from Bahrain to Doha in just over 17 hours covering a distance of 298km.

“I currently hold the record for the longest distance kitesurfed by a woman, which I set in 2014. By kiting to Doha, I managed to beat that record by close to 50km,” stated Brandt.

Through the GET Kite Mission - Kitesurf Arabia, she will attempt to beat her new record by over 250km. 

“I will set sail for Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi from Amwaj Islands, accompanied by a support team,” she explained.

Brandt will be accompanied by a 13.6-metre SAR Rescue Boat named Vigilant, provided by Kvichak Marine. 

“A team of five will be on-board the boat, which includes the captain of the boat, a doctor and kitesurfers who are familiar with my equipment,” she said.

The boat will be equipped with satellite phones while Brandt will carry a tracking device. “The boat is fully equipped with safety devices and is catered for the trip,” she added.

Like previous missions, Brandt aims to raise funds for Wings for Life, a charity organisation that is trying to find a cure for spinal cord injury through an ongoing research. 

“Through the mission last month, we raised close to US$1,600 in online and offline donations,” she stated.

“My goal, however, is to raise $5,500 so I hope that people will rally behind the cause and make a donation online,” she added.

The GET Kite Mission - Kitesurf Arabia can be tracked live online through a link on Brandt’s website. 

“People wishing to make a donation can also find the link to the donation page on my official website,” she said.

Following the mission, footage of the attempt captured by the photography team will be provided for approval from Guinness World Records. 

“We’ve been waiting for the right weather conditions and the region is currently on fire, so now it’s just a matter of daring the limit and kiting beyond,” she said.

For more information visit www.ankebrandt.com, on Facebook ‘Anke Brandt- Kite Beyond’ or follow Anke on Instagram @ankeinbrandt.