Read the video transcript here
Eleven stunt kites, a boat with three narrow hulls and plenty of stamina.
The professional kitesurfer Francisco Lufinha would like to cross the Atlantic with little more than that - a total of 6000 kilometers on the open sea.
Francisco Lufinha, kitesurfer:
“This is what it looks like here. I think you can see the kite. You can see the kite up there and hear the noise. The louder it is, the faster we go. And lots of water. It's sunset, almost. And that's a problem because I want to pass a corridor with ships. There are many ships in this area. "
The 38-year-old Portuguese's tiny trimaran - its cabin is not much larger than that of a jet jet - is only ever pulled by a single kite.
Lufinha has a total of eleven kites on board, but they always have to be repaired.
Francisco Lufinha, kitesurfer:
“Sleeping is not very easy on the mission. Sometimes, depending on the wind, I have to get up every ten or fifteen minutes to check everything. Sometimes, when I'm very tired or the wind eases a little, I can sleep for a few hours at a time. But I always have to watch out for the other ships and also the dragons. "
Probably the greatest risk in the planned Atlantic crossing is also a danger for the oceans: the garbage floating in the sea.
Francisco Lufinha, kitesurfer:
“I'm very afraid of drifting containers in the sea, because when I hit the containers with my fiberglass boat, it sinks. Any other type of garbage in the sea is also one of my biggest problems during this crossing. "
According to their own statements, the athlete and the Portuguese energy supplier EDP want to use the campaign to raise awareness for the protection of the oceans.
Lufinha also wants to break the Guinness record for the fastest solo Atlantic crossing with a kite sailboat.
Francisco Lufinha, kitesurfer:
»My motivation to take part in the» edp Atlantic Mission «is to keep pushing my limits, master extreme challenges and combine my sailing and kitesurfing skills with even more records than those I have already set . "
Lufinha has already completed the first stage on the way from Portugal to the Caribbean island of Martinique: 1300 kilometers to the Canary Island of La Palma.
On Tuesday he set out for the Caribbean.
To another 4700 kilometers - with hopefully a lot of wind and little ocean litter.
