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Marius Lesage and Oscar Masson complete their Channel crossing in just over six hours
They said they would do it – and they did. On 20 June, SKEMA Business School students Oscar Masson and Marius Lesage, both in their third year of the Master in Management (PGE) programme, successfully crossed the English Channel by kitesurf. Backed for several months by the school and its community, the project aimed to raise funds for Tous en Mer, a charity that introduces people in vulnerable situations to the world of sailing.
After 6 hours and 45 minutes of intense effort and 115 kilometres covered between the English and French coasts, the two students made landfall with tired faces but big smiles. Travelling at a steady pace of 9 knots (around 17 km/h), Oscar and Marius rose to the challenge. “Honestly, it was harder than I expected!” admitted Marius Lesage, also a member of SKEMA’s sailing association Océane.
“The last two or three hours were the hardest”
Crossing one of the world’s busiest straits without incident is no small feat. Marius and Oscar managed to weave through heavy maritime traffic to complete their crossing safely. “There were quite a few ships – cargo vessels in particular. We had to stop three or four times to let them pass before carrying on,” explained Marius. Their route took them through the Dover Strait, where nearly 20% of global maritime trade transits every year.
Nearly seven hours of effort
Setting off from Weymouth on the south coast of England, the two students were initially met with light and unpredictable winds. They headed east in search of stronger gusts, leaving the English shoreline behind them. After nearly seven hours on the water, and with the support of their sponsor Benjamin Ferré (SKEMA 2015), they finally reached the Normandy coast, landing on the beach at Urville-Nacqueville near Cherbourg.
“The last stretch was the toughest,” said Marius. “You can see the coast ahead, but it feels like you’re not moving at all.” So far, the duo have raised €1,500 for Tous en Mer, and are now planning a dedicated event to bring together all their supporters and partners.
