Hertfordshire cyclists break Guinness World Record for fastest pedal-powered Channel crossing (+ video)

Two members of Berkhamsted Cycling Club have set a new Guinness World Record, subject to ratification, for the ‘Fastest Pedal-Powered Channel Crossing’ – the latest in a string of records set in recent months by cyclist based in the Hertfordshire town.

Michael Gower and Graham Earl took 6 hours 39 minutes to complete the crossing on their custom-built, pedal-powered tandem catamaran called Dominic, according to a post on the club website.

The pair’s exploits in beating the previous record, set by Paul Tucker in 2002 and which stood at 7 hours 9 minutes, were featured on French TV.

According to Strava, last Thursday’s 38.5-kilometre ride from Dover to Wissant across what is one of the world’s busiest shipping lanes had a height gain of just 6 metres (we’re no experts in matters nautical, but we suspect the tide may have had an effect here).

The same day saw Berkhamsted-based cyclist Nick Clarke break the Pembroke to Great Yarmouth ‘Side to Side’ record, while in June this year Mike Broadwith, who is also based in the town, set a new record for riding from Land’s End to John O’Groats.

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While Gower and Earl will have secured the Guinness World Record once it has been ratified, it is not in fact the fastest crossing of the English Channel in a pedal-powered craft, although it is the quickest one by sea.

In June 1979,Bryan Allen, piloting the human-powered aircraft MacReady Gossamer Albatross, crossed the Channel in 2 hours 49 minutes.