A Cornish Kitesurfer is searching for sponsership so she can break a record.

Andreya Wharry is leading an attempt by the world?s top ten women kitesurfers to make the first kitesurf crossing from the Isles of Scilly to Newquay.

Funding is needed to help pay for travel to the islands, accomodation when they are on Scilly and safety boats the guide them on the attempt.

The women hope to complete the 70-mile crossing next May. They hope to raise more than ?10,000 for charity and make the Guinness Book Of Records for the largest kitesurf crossing.

Individual crossings have been successfully made across the Irish Sea and English Channel, but this attempt is a double first for the route and the number of riders taking part.

As well as Andreya current world champion Cindy Mosey, world number two Ingrid Kollbichler, and world number three Petra Goesch will make the exciting journey. Six others will also make up the team.

The Silke Gorldt Foundation, which was set up in memory of a female kitesurfer who died last year, as well as the RNLI, is one of the two charities the ladies are raising money for.

(Companies or individuals interested in sponsoring the attempt can contact Dreya on 07977 532933 or email dreya@watergatebay.co.uk. Alternatively contact Liz Long, events manager at the Extreme Academy, on 01637 860840 or email liz@watergatebay.co.uk.)

A Filipino man was airlifted from a cargo ship 165 miles south-west of the Isles of Scilly.

RNAS Culdrose was launched on Wednesday evening to airlift the 32 year old man, who was aboard the Bahamas-registered Chiquita Schweiz en route to Sweden. It is thought the man was suffering from appendicitis.

They arrived back at the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Truro at 3.30am. He is still being treated there.

The Isles of Scilly will soon have its name in lights as Why the Whales Came become a west end show.

An Exeter based company Theatre Alibi is hoping to entertain schools from all over the company with the story that is based on Bryher.

The show runs from December 10th-January 7th and the underground stations in the capitol are already advertising the children?s favourite.

The story was written by Children?s Laureate, Michael Morpurgo. The story was made into a major film in 1988 that was made on the islands.

This week it was announced the author has been nominated for a Whitbread Award

The Hell Bay Hotel, on Bryher, was celebrating yesterday after winning a ?Tourism Oscar.?

The hotel, which is undergoing major building work at the moment, was commended at the South West Tourism Excellence Awards 2003 for its excellence in locally caught seafood.

Two farms on the Isles of Scilly have been placed under strict quarantine regulations as a precaution against the virulent potato disease Ring Rot.

Scientists from DEFRA (the Department of the Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs are investigating the farms to check out the stocks of seed potatoes looking for signs.

Another farm in Penzance has also been identified.

A business on St Martins has been named Small Business Champion for the South. ?Scent from the Islands? at Churchtown Farm won the award as part of the Small Business Awards 2003.

Sponsored by The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB), Lloyds TSB and the Mirror Newspaper Group, the Awards were set up in March 2002, to recognise the key role that small businesses play in Britain?s economic strength.

Founders of ?Scent from the Islands?, Churchtown Farm owners Andrew and Hillary Julian, are delighted to have won the regional award ? particularly as they were up against stiff competition from businesses all over the south region - which includes London.

?We started the business in 1993 and are now one of the UK?s leading mail order flower businesses, dispatching over 60,000 boxes of Show Pinks and Scented Narcissi all over the UK?, says Andrew.

?We?re delighted to have won this award because it proves that businesses in Cornwall are making it good and are truly sustainable for the local economy too. For example, we?re based on St Martins, which has a population of about 90 people ? and we employ 20% of them, full time!?

The 27 acre farm is also open to the public and regularly attracts visitors who are holidaying on the Isles of Scilly ? and has very recently been featured on the BBC?s popular ?Holiday? programme.

John Emmins, National Chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses said: ?These awards offer our great British entrepreneurs an opportunity to gain the recognition they deserve.?

Michael Morpurgo, the author who has written numerous books about Scilly, is nominated for the Whitbread Award.

He is nominated for his book Private Peaceful. The writer has penned various books about the islands including Why the Whales Came which was made into a film.

Mr Morpurgo, who holidays on the islands, is a previous winner of the award and is currently the Children Laureate.

The rescue of an injured fisherman who was airlifted from a boat 200 miles off the islands has been described as ?difficult and dangerous? by the crew of the rescue helicopter.

The RAF helicopter from Devon went to help the Spanish fisherman after he suffered a serious head injury on board the trawler. The operation took seven hours.

The fisherman was taken to Treliske Hospital.

The rescue has been launched to a Portugese fishing boat 150 miles south west of the islands.

A crew member on the vessel is thought to have experienced respiritory problems. He was airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital

MENS

|Gig | Total | Swap |
|Golden Eagle | 134 | 55 |
|Shah | 113 | 44 |
|Serica | 98 | 54 |
|Bonnet | 92 | 40 |
|Men A Vaur | 86 | 38 |
|Nornour | 61 | 23 |
|Dolphin | 56 | 30 |
|Galatea | 39 | 17 |
|Czar | 10 | 10 |
|Tregarthen’s | 9 | 9 |
|Emperor | 7 | 7 |

LADIES

|Gig | Total | Swap |
|Bonnet | 141 | 65 |
|Golden Eagle | 119 | 48 |
|Men A Vaur | 116 | 50 |
|Dolphin | 107 | 51 |
|Nornour | 81 | 41 |
|Czar | 81 | 40 |
|Tregarthen’s | 76 | part season |
|Serica | 67 | 40 |
|Emperor | 57 | - |
|Galatea | 45 | 23 |

Other results for the Island ladies:
Third in the Great Thames River Race.
Second in the County Championships (Newquay, Cornwall).
First in the 2003 World Pilot Gig Championships.