Frenchman achieves 'dream' of first hoverboard Channel crossing A French daredevil who spent years developing a jet-powered hoverboard zooms across the English Channel, fulfilling his quest after pulling off a tricky refuelling manoeuvre that cut short his first attempt 10 days ago. Franky Zapata blasted off on his "Flyboard" from Sangatte on the northern coast of France at 8:17 am (0617 GMT) for the 35-kilometre (22-mile) trip to St. Margaret's Bay in Dover. of the landing