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ESCAPADE PEDAL BOAT CROSSES
ENGLISH CHANNEL TWICE
In his 12 foot Nauticraft Escapade
pedal boat, Paul Tucker, 59,
pedaled to a record-breaking channel crossing on Tuesday, May 21st, 2002.
He completed his round-trip journey in a record time of 14 hours 20
minutes between Folkestone, England and Calais, France.
This crossing is a testament to
the Escapade's
stability, sea-worthiness, and durability. The Escapade's
lines were drawn by a world-class yacht designer to provide both
hydrodynamic and aerodynamic efficiency, all the while doing it with style
and good looks. Its distinctive windshield protects the pedaler from winds
as well as waves and spray. Escapade
was designed to handle compromising waters because its ballast-filled keel
provides high ultimate stability. You sit down inside on a comfortable
padded recumbent seat and pedal Nauticraft's specially designed drive unit
that mates bicycle pedals and crank arms with an industrial toothed belt
and sprockets.
Paul credits his success to the Escapade.
"The craft was magnificent and ran really well." Paul said after
completing his trip. The retired British Army officer is applying to the
Guinness Book of World Records for inclusion and recognition as the first
person to complete a round-trip crossing of the channel in such a vehicle
and in the fastest time. The significance of this crossing is further
evidenced by the fact that a sponsored team has been trying to complete a
single crossing for over 10 years with no success. In fact, they had to be
rescued after their craft turned over just four days prior to Paul's
successful journey. Paul and his Escapade
was accompanied by a small boat
operated by the Channel Crossing Association, which confirmed Tucker's
effort and success, and guided him back and forth across the busy shipping
lanes of the Channel.
The Escapade
was loaned to Paul Tucker by John Richardson of Waterbikes, Inc., UK
distributor of the Escapade.
The channel crossing was part of a fundraising effort by Paul Tucker on
behalf of the Royal British Legion, an association of former service
personnel.
According to John Richardson who
was in the escort boat for Paul Tucker's crossing, the crossing was
certified at nearly 60 miles (due to the major course adjustments for
tidal flow which are necessary in the Dover Straits) by the Channel
Crossing Association. Guinness Book of Records will record this as a
"first" and as a world record.
We're really excited about this
accomplishment. It's a marvelous testament to the Escapade
and its durability and stability. And it's even more impressive
considering that another team has
been trying for TEN YEARS to make a single crossing and failed -- just as
recently as May 17th when their pedal craft flipped and the pedaler had to
be rescued from the channel.
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