Beach hosts 24-hour buggy event

The teams will be raising money for charity

Sand yachting enthusiasts are attempting to break an international record of endurance by sailing kite buggies on a beach for 24 hours.

Hoylake's Wirral Sand Yacht Club (WSYC) is hosting the 24-hour Kite Buggy Challenge, in an attempt to set a new international distance record.

Teams of kite buggy or parakart sailors will try to cover up to 400 miles (644 km) from when they start on Saturday.

Eighteen teams of three are taking part, some from as far away as Germany.

Others are expected to come to the Wirral peninsula from Scotland, the Midlands and the south coast.

The event, which starts at 1000 BST, is taking place with the co-operation of the RNLI, coastguard and Merseyside Police.

Organiser David Edwards said the best vantage point for spectators is between the King's Gap and Hoyle Road in the town.

"Although it isn't a public event, if you are at the front in Hoylake you will hopefully see a procession of fantastically coloured kites traversing the sky," he said.

Sailors usually only go out for between two and six hours at a time.

"The aim is to travel as far as possible in the time allotted and create an unbeatable record," he said.

Sailors usually only go out for between two and six hours at a time

The teams are made up of three people each, who take it in turns to sail up and down Hoylake beach, recording their distance on GPS systems fitted to the buggies.

The record itself is recognised by the International Federation of Sand and Land Yachts and they have been informed of the event.

The current distance record of 197 miles was set in Ireland last weekend.

Mr Edwards said the weather should not be a problem, as the teams will still be able to sail in showery rain.

All the teams are raising money for charity, including the RNLI at Hoylake and the North West Air Ambulance.

David Edwards' team, DK Challenge 24, are sponsored by local accountancy firm Dufton Kellner in support of Claire House Children's Hospice.

The WSYC will also be the host of the European Sandyacht Championship in September.