Comedian Stephen Colbert last night [Feb.17] challenged British serial entrepreneur and adventurer Sir Richard Branson to compete against him in the upcoming Charleston-Bermuda yacht race to decide who is “the greatest sailor in the world.”

The Comedy Central talk show host has an ongoing mock feud with the Virgin music, airline and telecommunications mogul dating back to 2007 when Sir Richard – irritated by Mr. Colbert’s satirical jibes – threw a cup of water on him during an appearance on his programme. Mr. Colbert then demanded a bottle of water and flung it on the multi-millionaire.

Since then Mr. Colbert — who plays a caricatured version of a right-wing TV pundit on his show – has thrown down the gauntlet numerous times, challenging Sir Richard to tests of manhood and fortitude ranging from a chicken fight with nude models on their backs to last night’s call to race him to Bermuda.

Last week Mr. Colbert announced he will be taking part in the May race from his home town of Charleston, South Carolina to Bermuda. This will mark the second time the comedian has participated in the race, having completed it in 2005. The boat Mr. Colbert crewed aboard that year came in dead last.

Sir Richard Branson has become as well known for his attempts to break world yachting and ballooning records as for his business ventures. In 2008 he and his children made an unsuccessful attempt at an eastbound record crossing of the Atlantic under sail in the 99-foot sloop “Virgin Money”. After two days at sea what Sir Richard called a “‘monster wave” destroyed the yacht’s spinnaker and the vessel had to abandon the attempt and divert to Bermuda.

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