Inflatable boat world record smashed with 1,200 rubber dinghies

A world record number of floaters have taken to the not so high seas in a veritable armada of inflatable vessels.

More than 1,200 fans of the old fashioned 'rubber dingy' paddled down the Aar river in Switzerland and by the end of the two-hour journey to Bern were a little puffed out to say the least.

The bright orange flotilla, including some with pirate flags, eye patches and bandannas was being examined by Guinness World Records officials.

A previous event organised in Japan set the original record when 1,100 manoeuvred their inflatable crafts to stay afloat.

One organiser said after the paddlethon: 'The hard thing was keeping everyone together. It was a very big flotilla.'

While the river goers enjoyed a relativley lazy day in the sun one Swiss thrill seeker is aiming to break seven world records in seven days.

Extreme artist Freddy Nock completed his first of the daring tightrope walks on Sunday when he crossed a high-wire erected over the Zugspitze mountain located in southern Bavaria.


/Metro/