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Hot-air balloons cross Channel for new record
Spectacular sunrise departure at Dover for 100-strong airborne fleet
A record-breaking 100 hot-air balloons set off from Dover at 7.00 this morning to cross the English Channel to France.
The airborne fleet, which included three French pilots and one French balloon, made the crossing in about 40 minutes, accompanied at departure by a cross-Channel ferry 1,000ft below. The balloons landed in fields between Calais and Boulogne-sur-Mer on France’s Côte d’Opale.
The Guinness World Record breaking feat was the result of a collaboration between recruitment agency, Datum RPO, and Executive Ballooning. Just 50 balloons were needed to beat the previous record set in 2011, when 49 balloons took part.
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Andrew Holly, of Exclusive Ballooning, said: "I'm always asked about my favourite flights, having flown for 20 years all over the world. Without doubt, the Channel crossing flight in 2011 is my number one and the opportunity to repeat this was just too tempting."
Organisers and reporters tweeted stunning photos of the journey:
It's official, we are over the channel! Thank you to @POferries for all your help in getting our teams on board!! #ballooncrosschannel pic.twitter.com/xxgARbAlkZ
— Exclusive Ballooning (@XBallooning) April 7, 2017
One from @LyddenHill earlier, hundreds more from 5am onwards to sort through after work tonight. #ballooncrosschannel pic.twitter.com/HAhVn0TWgk
— Seasidetog (@seasidetog) April 7, 2017
@joinerysoft hot air balloon is a third of the way across channel travelling 12knts, 1000 feet up #ballooncrosschannel pic.twitter.com/d9MGCMLLh2
— Joinerysoft (@Joinerysoft) April 7, 2017
And the whole cliffs of dover...#ballooncrosschannel @doverexpress @BBC pic.twitter.com/IKfEtiVR6e
— Joinerysoft (@Joinerysoft) April 7, 2017
And they've reached the other side #ballooncrosschannel pic.twitter.com/njWVmqn5sq
— Joinerysoft (@Joinerysoft) April 7, 2017
We are in France pic.twitter.com/4rPcJbnB0P
— Fiona Lamdin (@FionaLamdin) April 7, 2017
French cattle bermused by the British Balloons above them... we have crossed the Channel. @BBCBreakfast pic.twitter.com/hHiY2od4lO
— Fiona Lamdin (@FionaLamdin) April 7, 2017
We decided to keep going....@BBCBreakfast pic.twitter.com/g67NkHVSTH
— Fiona Lamdin (@FionaLamdin) April 7, 2017
