PHUKET: A team of paddlers heads off today to make the first 31-kilometre journey from Lanta to Phi Phi in what they hope will become an annual event to demonstrate the sport.

''We estimate that the crossing will take between five and seven hours, depending on wind, weather, and wave conditions,'' says organiser Pete Compere.

''There will also be a support crew in a longtail boat which will supply water and take video footage of the crossing for a short movie to be produced after the finish.''

The standup paddleboard is becoming more popular as a watersport with a healthy means of propulsion.

''The stand up paddleboard model we will use is the Starboard Blend, which is 11 feet long and 30 inches wide,'' Mr Compere said.

''There will be one Starboard team rider, Lina Augaitis, one Swedish paddler, Richard Bilter, who is a distance athlete in Sweden and competes in the Swedish classic every year, and me.''

Mr Compere, and American, is the owner of Lanta Paddlesports.

''Standup paddleboarding is the fastest growing sport in the wold and is a perfect fit for the island lifestyle of Phuket and the whole region,'' he said. ''It's a great alternative to jet-skis and motorised watersports.''