After all the build up and excitement around the 2008 Worthing Birdman, in the end it was mother nature that had the last laugh!! Saturday was excellent, and I watched the real flyers take off in near perfect conditions for them, and it resulted in a record of 85m being set.
But the early hours of Sunday morning saw the anticipated weather front really take control. With such a high tide and the storm front, it was actually the Beach master that canceled the day on the Sunday by actually closing the Pier because the waves were washing over the end!!
To say I was gutted was a complete understatement. You know what the event meant to me with regards to my brother, so it was a real shame that I couldn't jump. (In all honestly, the conditions were truly atrocious, with mountainous waves, force 7/8 winds and fierce rain - they couldn't even launch the rescue boats!!)
With film crews and the photographic press there, it was decided to try and still get photos and interviews and we assembled (in costume) in The Dome nearby. Then one of the TV guys had a great idea(!!) - why not pictures of all the competitors running into the sea (now with big waves of course) in costume! Suffice to say we did it. So what follows are a number of pics of Crocman in the rough seas, with some of the other Birdmen competitors.
You can watch the official video of the 2008 Birdman, and yes, you might recognised a certain croc in there somewhere
In total we raised £1600+ for Leukaemia Research which was absolutely fantastic, although we all ended up in the sea, we didn't obviously jump. A massive thank you for all your support, it has been brilliant, and I know that somewhere, some leukaemia sufferers will benefit from this money raised.
If there are any people that did sponsor me based on me completing the jump, that would like to get a refund of their donation, then please do contact me, and we can arrange it accordingly.
I have been asked whether I will do it next year, and the answer is easy.......ABSOLUTELY!!!!
