<p><br /> Sir Richard Branson has been forced to abandon his attempt to set two world records by kite-boarding across the English Channel.<br /> </p><p><br /> Strong winds and a choppy sea made it unsafe for him to proceed with the 24-mile crossing and he turned back after just an hour and ten minutes on the waves.<br /> </p><p><br /> The Virgin entrepreneur had hoped to celebrate his 60th birthday by becoming the oldest person to cross the Channel by kite-board.<br /> </p><p><br /> Accompanied by his children Holly, 29, and Sam, 26, and a number of others including Princess Beatrice's boyfriend Dave Clarke, 28, he set off from Dungeness in Kent on Tuesday morning, hoping to reach the French coast.<br /> </p><p><br /> But winds measuring up to six on the Beaufort scale prevented the safety boats from accompanying them on the crossing and Sir Richard reluctantly decided they should turn back.<br /> </p><p><br /> A defiant Sir Richard said afterwards: "It was fantastic conditions for kiting but hellish conditions for the chase boats. The boats couldn't have done it and it's too dangerous for the kites to continue without them."<br /> </p><p><br /> He shrugged off the failure of his first attempt and vowed to try again on Wednesday, when conditions are expected to be better.<br /> </p><p><br /> He said: "I don't think I've ever done an adventure where I've succeeded the first time. I'm looking forward to getting the job done tomorrow."<br /> </p>
