Contestants in the wacky International Bognor Birdman competition started their leaps over the English Channel today in a bid to fly into the record books.
Several hopefuls from across the globe are launching their magnificent flying machines in the race to win the as yet unclaimed £25,000 jackpot by reaching 100 metres or more.
However, conditions were not ideal for competitors as a breezy northerly wind deterred many who saved their attempt until tomorrow, when more helpful weather is forecast.
Nevertheless IT engineer Dean Gunn, 42, from Leatherhead, Surrey, was first to throw himself off the West Sussex seaside town's pier aided only by his 13-year-old glider as crowds looked on from the promenade.
Mr Gunn, whose partner Rhona and daughters Kate and Grace were in Bognor to watch his attempt, said he had "absolutely no chance of winning'' shortly before he crashed into the water 19.4 metres out.
He said: "This faithful glider of mine is 13-years-old and a mouse ate a hole in it over the winter and I felt it was time to let go and find a distinguished end to its life.''
"I have absolutely no chance of winning but I have raised nearly £500 for charity for Oxfam and Cancer Research UK.
"The problem that everyone has got today is the wind. It could not be blowing in a worse direction and at a worse strength. But I am here for fun really and to raise money for charity.''
Other pilots decided not to make an attempt during today's heats, which allow competitors to pick up extra points in a bid to win the overall event, which continues tomorrow.
However aircraft designer Dr Bill Brooks from Wiltshire used the northerly wind to good effect to reach 54.2 metres while Australian entrant Izaak Connaughton pipped Mr Gunn with a jump measuring 19.9 metres.
Last year, the six-year reign of Birdman veteran Ron "Bald Eagle'' Freeman, from Northumberland, was broken by newcomer Tony Hughes from Marlborough who flew 82.5 metres, breaking the Eagle's lifetime best of 81 metres.
The pair will once again be battling for supremacy in the skies but are being challenged by entrants from the UK, Australia, Canada, France and Japan.
A competition spokesman said: "This year the International Bognor Birdman competition promises to be one of the most exciting as two contestants, both flying instructors who flew last year, fight for supremacy.''
Neither Ron Freeman, the World Hang-gliding Champion from 1981 to 1985, or new boy Tony Hughes, a microlight flying instructor and a former RAF pilot, have been able to beat the competition's longest ever flight.
In 1992, local student David Bradshaw made history by soaring 89.2 metres from the end of Bognor pier but still failed to smash the illusive 100 metres target.
However, organisers say The Bald Eagle has spent the last eight months building his Geordie Flyer "behind closed doors'' while Hughes has spent "hours and hours'' each week building The X Plane II, an advanced glider with modifications from last year including special wing tips, carbon fibre pressure moulded.
The Birdman spokesman said: "To date the 100 metre target has not been broken but modern technology makes almost anything possible.''
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