Erwan Jauffroy crosses the English Channel on a foil powered only by waves - 2026
World First Snapshot
- First Title
- First English Channel crossing on a foil powered only by waves
- Discipline
Downwind Foiling- Class
- Open / Crossing
- Measured Result
- First English Channel crossing on a wave-powered foil - (First only)
- Date
- 2026-07-12
- Location
- Eastbourne, England to Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France, English Channel, United Kingdom / France
- First Achieved By
- Erwan Jauffroy
World First Spotlight
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Monster Council Approval
Kip, along with the foiling community at large, has given this glorious achievement the official Foiling Freaks nod for Downwind Foiling.
May it inspire better evidence, cleaner runs, bigger claims, and even louder hooting from the crowd.
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How This Epic Thing Went Down
On July 12, 2026, Erwan Jauffroy departed Eastbourne, England, and reached Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France, on a foil powered by wave energy rather than a sail or motor. Waterspeed tracked the complete session at 191.6 km over 8 hours, 8 minutes and 18 seconds, including the route, speed, heart rate and physical effort. The report notes two breaks during the crossing. Foiling Freaks records it as the first documented English Channel crossing in this unpowered downwind foil format, separate from pure distance records because the defining achievement is connecting England and France across the Channel.
Rules of the Beast
First publicly documented crossing of the English Channel on a hydrofoil board without sail or motor propulsion, using wave energy and rider power. The source must identify the rider, route, date, and successful completion. Paddling for launch or recovery and a safety escort are allowed, but no tow, motor, sail, handheld wing, or kite may provide propulsion during the crossing.
How This Got the Nod
Waterspeed directly reported the rider, date, Eastbourne-to-Cherbourg route, 191.6 km tracked distance, 8:08:18 duration, no sail, no motor, and wave-powered method. The linked Instagram reel provides video evidence of the crossing.
Video Proof From the Vault
Erwan Jauffroy completed the first publicly reported English Channel crossing on a foil without a sail or motor, covering 191.6 km from Eastbourne to Cherbourg.