'Allo 'Allo!
- By Richard Branson -
- Jul 01, 2012
'Allo 'Allo! The French police turned up to arrest us after we completed today's Channel kitesurf crossing. When the police told us it was illegal, I said I thought anybody could swim in the sea!
We were so cold and the waves crashing onto the beach were such that we couldn't swim back to the boats. So we half-jokingly asked the police if they would arrest us so we could get to cell and warm up for the night!
The police told us that the food in the cells wasn't as good as in French restaurants. We were pleased their serious demeanor turned into a broad smile.
Luckily they had a sense of humour and they let us off with a very firm warning not to do it again and sent us on our way.
Shaking from the cold I assured them I had no desire to do it again! Maybe Sam's record is safe after all!
When Charlie asked if he could kite back to complete the return leg and become the first to go both ways in one day, the police made it clear that we were all pushing our luck...
By Richard Branson. Founder of Virgin Group
