Cyril Derreumaux kayaked from California to Hawaii in only 91 days. It was a 2,400-mile-long record-breaking trip. His trip started in Monterey, California on June 21 and ended in Hilo, Hawaii three months later. He used a “kayak modified with pedals and a cabin big enough to squeeze into for sleep.”
He tried this same challenge in 2021, but bad weather and other issues stopped him from achieving his goal.
In 2021, he wanted to reach Hawaii in 64 days, but the expedition fell apart six days in due to bad weather, electrical problems, and issues with the sea anchor. Reflecting on his first attempt, he explains, “The general behavior of my kayak suddenly changed, which I immediately attributed to sea anchor damage. In a few moments, my kayak was positioned almost parallel to the axis of the waves, and I found myself violently tossed from side to side along with all the equipment that was stored in the cabin.” He had to call the Coast Guard for rescue.
The failed attempt did help him learn things that would help with his next trip. He increased “his physical fitness” and helped him “develop new techniques for staying mentally fortified.” It also showed him that he needed to modify his kayak as well.
Nevertheless, Derreumaux’s achievement verges on superhuman. He spent 10 hours per day paddling. To make the effort doable, he organized it into a daily routine. Each morning, he started with four hours of paddling, followed by a meal and some relaxation. He’d put in two more hours in the afternoon and four more before sunset. This allowed him to turn in at night for satisfying, much-needed sleep fests.
To fuel his endeavors, he consumed between 4,000 and 6,000 calories daily. He also trained carefully, attenuating specific tendons to handle the extra exercise and stress. After all, tennis elbow isn’t something you want to deal with mid-ocean.
Cyril came across several situations that did not help. He kayaked through rough weather on the first leg of the trip. He faced heavy winds and flooding. His water maker stopped working at one point. He had to ration food and lost weight rapidly.
But he never gave up and accomplished his dream and all in 91 days and 9 hours.
Source Ripley’s
