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We made it. The kite challenge has been completed. Not quite around the entire island but the 250km mark has been crossed and what a team effort it was - supported and made possible by MINI and BMMI!

Everything came together. Looking back at the wind forecast from February 21 to March 5, our window for the attempt, the first day of March was almost the only day with a steady wind forecast from sunrise to sunset.

On top of that, it was a weekend with everyone being available to help and to send us off on our journey early in the morning. The night before our Coast Guard representative Isaaq had been in touch with the coastguard to inform them about our attempt, while my friend Gemma prepared amazing catering for the team-of-five on the support boat.

I felt great on the day thanks to my friends Katie Stevens, a certified acupuncturist, who had nursed me to the best possible state over the previous three weeks ahead of the event and my good friend Romy came over from Germany the week before and looked after me in every possible way.

Jurgen the boat Captain and Shayne my partner had prepared and fuelled up the boat the night before and had thought of every little thing we could possibly need with the help of Fanie, an IKO certified kite instructor.

Elie sorted out all necessary camera equipment to assure we have continuous footage along the way which is needed as evidence for the Guinness Book of Records. Mohannah, also a certified kite instructor, took the time to join the team and act as an official witness on the day of the attempt.

Echo Media made a big effort to get as much filming done from the land as possible accompanied by Ali Barqawi Studios, while Julie was keeping everyone updated on my social media account.

Roberta had been driving around the island all day to collect independent witness signatures required for confirmation of the world record in Zallaq, Durrat al Bahrain and Al Dar Island where I finally arrived 12 hours later. Amwaj Marina supported us too with a BBQ set up to raise money for the charity, Wings for Life.

The trip was long but at no point did I consider giving up, despite the strong current on the east coast going against me which made it very difficult to gain ground. When the team gave me the signal that I had crossed the 250km mark just after sunset it felt amazing! I couldn’t believe we had made it.

Anke Brandt, Bahrain, the new world kite surfer endurance record holder.

I am pleased to advise the launch of the Old-AGCians website: www.oldagcians.com
An Old-AGCian is an ex-Awali Golf Club (AGC) member now living outside Bahrain, and the concept is one of an ‘old-boys club’ where we can easily keep up to date with each other, having some fun along the way.

We are in early days at the moment - hopefully many more Old-AGCians will register as time passes. There is a thorough FAQ section on the website, which should answer any questions.

To highlight one other thing here: the website is built so that any current member of AGC may register (we refer to them as Future Old-AGCians) and in this way your AGC members have access to the details of Old-AGCians.

Not only this, but current AGC members are able to publish their details for each other to see. This may even be their priority, as this helps with breaking the ice when meeting a new person within your clubhouse or on the 1st tee.

We are very happy to receive your feedback ... our email is webmaster@oldagcians.com

Onny Martin, administrator of  the Old-AGCians.

Four Bahraini Model United Nations (BUMUN) Diplomacy award-winning students have been nominated to attend the National Model United Nations (NMUN) in New York.

The conference will be staged from March 28 till April 7. The opening and closing ceremonies will be held in the UN HQ and the actual conference in the Sheraton Towers & Hotels.

The delegation will be made up of university students Latifa Al Khalifa from Regent College, Maryam Al Zeera and Aseel Al Hermi from the Royal College of Surgeons and Hajar Sultan from Bahrain Polytechnic.

The General Organisation for Youth & Sports has fully sponsored the delegates travel expenses.

NMUN-NY 2014 will bring more than 5,000 delegates from six continents to New York City. Twenty simulated committees of the United Nations and other international organisations will gather to discuss the issues facing this generation. Through lively debates, exciting social events and unique conference spirit, National Model United Nations experience reaches across cultures and borders to inspire cooperation, leadership and friendship.

This year, the group will represent the Republic of Senegal, but will also act as Ambassadors for Bahrain by sharing their culture, work, diversity and inclusiveness. Further, The Bahraini delegation will have mission briefings and meetings with the Senegal High Commission and the Bahrain Permanent Mission in New York.

The aim is to promote a good image of Bahrain to the international community and educational institutions at UN level through participation in fairs & exhibitions and advertising the BUMUN conference in the NMUN booklet.

Doris Martin, NMUN board member & faculty advisor, BUMUN founder and programme director.