Pilot Dave Ibbotson and driver of the speedboat Toby Clayson square up at St Peter Port Harbour prior to the Air and Sea race held on Saturday to celebrate 45 years of Kleinwort Benson in the islands. (0589806)

SEVEN minutes was all that stood between the winning and losing team in this year’s charity air/sea challenge.  A final dash to the finish line at the Ship & Crown for boatman David Myles, 40, and Toby Clayson, 30, came too late.

Aviation team Jonathan Gready, 45, and Dale Ibbotson, 44, had pipped them to the post, having arrived 43 minutes after the challenge began in Jersey.

The race, to raise money for Channel Islands Air Search, began at 10am on Saturday  at the St Helier Yacht Club. The teams, one in a 28ft Ocke Mannefel-designed batboat and the other in a Twin Comanche plane, raced one another to the finish line in Guernsey.

The first to make it to the Town pub were declared the winners.