Atlantic adventure: Belgian wants to be the first to kitesurf across the ocean

One man, one kite, one ocean

Koen Darras, entrepreneur and adventurer from Torhout in Belgium, wants to venture out on one of the most dangerous journeys the ocean has to offer with nothing more than a kiteboard and a kite. Around 2,700 nautical miles of open water lie between the Canary Islands and the Caribbean, and it is precisely this distance that Darras wants to be the first person to conquer by kiting alone.

The route: With the Passat to the Caribbean

The expedition is to begin on the Canary Islands off the west coast of Africa. From there, Darras first wants to kite to Cape Verde before venturing into the open Atlantic, following the trade winds that will carry him towards the Caribbean.

The constant winds of between 15 and 25 knots that sailors have used for centuries to cross the Atlantic are also said to be the most reliable source of energy on the ocean for kites.

Around 92 nautical miles a day - ten hours on the water

The figures behind the project are impressive. Darras wants to cover around 92 nautical miles a day, spending up to ten hours on board. With favourable wind and weather conditions, the entire crossing should be completed in 30 to 40 days.

At night, Darras will sleep and rest on an accompanying sailing boat. However, he will be propelled at all times solely by kite and board, without any motorised assistance.

The escort ship: safety net on the Atlantic

A 52-foot steel ketch, the expedition yacht "Windfall", is to accompany Darras on the entire route. On board, a team of marine meteorologists and navigation experts will monitor him around the clock and provide support in the event of technical problems.

However, the boat is expressly not intended to serve as a means of propulsion. The rules of the project are clear: every nautical mile travelled must be achieved using wind power and the skills of the kiter alone.

More than a record: science on the Atlantic

Darras sees his project as more than just a sporting borderline experience. Scientific data is to be collected continuously during the crossing, in cooperation with researchers from several disciplines.

Among other things, the following are to be measured:

• Water temperature and salinity of the Atlantic
• Occurrence and distribution of microplastics
• Weather and current patterns along the route

The data collected will be made available to the research community after the expedition and should provide insights into the state of the Atlantic Ocean.

Not a beginner in extreme sports

Koen Darras is no stranger to the world of extreme adventurers. The 37-year-old has already conquered Mount Denali in Alaska, Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn and the Eiger in the Alps.

With the Atlantic project, which he presents on his website atlanticcrossing.world documented, he now wants to leave the border between mountain and sea behind him and write a chapter that no-one before him has ever written.

Launch in November 2026

The plan is to set off in November 2026, when the trade winds blow reliably and the Atlantic season is most favourable for such expeditions. Until then, preparations are in full swing - physically, logistically and scientifically.