Portuguese kiteboarder Francisco Lufinha has successfully sailed between the Savage Islands (Ilhas Selvagens) and Funchal in Madeira.
Lufinha, who holds the Guinness World Record for the longest kiteboarding journey, left the small Portuguese archipelago in the North Atlantic at 6 am and touched firm land at 6 pm.
The kiteboarder embarked on a 12-hour adventure for a total of 303 kilometers (163 nautical miles). The wind and swell were not always on his side, but that was not the main problem.
"Two hours after leaving, the harness began pulling my left lung into the ribs. I spent 12 hours struggling to hold just one more hour," Lufinha reveals.
No doubt it was another big challenge overcome. There were fewer kilometers [than the previous record crossing], but it was very tough."
Francisco reached a maximum speed of 35.16 kilometers per hour, and his average speed was 23.72 kilometers per hour.
He is the third man to complete the crossing between Ilhas Selvagens and Funchal.
Frederico Rezende did it on a jet ski (2008), and João Rodrigues sailed it on his windsurfer (2011).