Sangatte (France) (AFP)
On the eve of his second attempt to cross the Channel on his "Flyboard", Franky Zapata estimated Saturday to be "much more likely" than "the last time" to succeed in this challenge.
"We saw, we learned, the winds have not changed, I think it should do," said Franky Zapata at a press conference in Sangatte (Pas-de-Calais).
"If we do not pass, we will start again, for sure, even if there is no one at the end (...) I will cross anyway," he assured.
According to him, the "reason" should have pushed him to make a new attempt next year, but he did not "feel" to "spend a year with that in (his) head".
Franky Zapata also said that his main anxiety for this new attempt was that his machine was "a little worry".
"Normally, the machines, we test them for several weeks before having important events.Here, it is true that it is a little scary to have a machine that has just been raised" after falling into the water, he said.
On July 25, Franky Zapata had darted near Sangatte Beach on his flying board, but he had dropped a few minutes later into English waters after hitting the supply boat platform at a very low pace where he wanted to ask.
"I had never flown so far from the coast and it was perfect, the flight was easier, the air was less turbulent, the flight itself was simple," he said on Saturday.
The former world and European jet ski champion had to repair this week in his workshop near Marseille electronics and engines of his machine, damaged during his fall.
The 40-year-old must try again the feat Sunday morning, "a priori between 8:00 am and 10:00 am," said his entourage.
© 2019 AFP