Belgian Kitesurfers: Channel Crossing for Clean Water in Madagascar
Sat 16th Aug, 2025 @ 9:00 am
Today, three Belgian kitesurfers are undertaking a challenge never before completed: a 120-kilometre crossing of the English Channel, powered solely by wind and muscle. In one continuous stretch, without breaks, they will kite from Zeebrugge to Ramsgate in the United Kingdom. Their mission: to provide clean drinking water for 2,000 people in Madagascar.
A First for Belgium
This is the first time a Belgian team will attempt this route between Belgium and England by kite. The athletes expect to kite for over ten hours non-stop across the open sea—no engines, no support; just wind, endurance, and teamwork.
Sport with a Mission
The crossing is an initiative by Offshore vzw, founded by young athletes who use extreme challenges as a catalyst for social change. With this first edition, they aim to spotlight the global water crisis. In Madagascar, one in two people currently has no access to safe drinking water. The team’s goal is to fund 200,000 litres of clean drinking water by raising money for water purification systems.
Follow Live or Support the Project
After two months of waiting for ideal wind conditions, departure is planned for Saturday, 16 August. Updates, photos, and videos will be shared during and after the crossing via the media drive and Offshore’s social media channels. Donations can be made directly via the website.
Schedule
- 10:00 – Meet on the beach in Zeebrugge (behind Weekend Dance, left side of Heer van Zeebrugge)
- 11:00 – Start of the kitesurf crossing towards Ramsgate (see attached map)
- 6–8 hours kiting – Expected arrival in Ramsgate around 19:00
Return to Belgium by boat
Find out more here!
