Recently, a San Francisco-area man completed a three-month kayak trip at sea, traveling the 2,400-mile journey from California to Hawaii. He was only the second person to complete the amazing trek.
Cyril Derreumaux left Monterey in June and aimed his kayak towards Hawaii. This was not his first attempt at the journey; he was going to try in 2020, but COVID-19 interrupted his plans. In 2021, Derreumaux launched into the water again, but just a week into the paddle, he damaged his anchor and hit rough seas. He and his team on land decided to call it, and the U.S. Coast Guard rescued him in a helicopter just outside Santa Cruz.
On the most recent attempt, Derreumaux finally succeeded. His trip was in a 23-foot custom kayak with a water desalination system and a sleeping cabin, and the 46-year-old shared every paddle stroke with his social media followers along the way.
"It was a magnificent adventure, clearly also a spiritual journey," Derreumaux said in a statement. "Before leaving, I couldn't really explain why I wanted to take on this challenge, but I finally found all the answers to my questions on the water. I loved sharing my trip with all those who followed me on the map or the social networks."
Derreumaux, who was born in France, considers himself a world citizen. He devoted himself to this goal and worked through rough patches to succeed. The first few days of the successful trip brought sea sickness, diet adjustments, reduced sleep, and increased physical issues. The most difficult of all was the strong currents and winds trying to send him back to the U.S. and Mexican coasts. The trip took three weeks longer than he had planned, but Derreumaux rationed his food for the trip's final leg and spent nine hours a day rowing. The trip was supposed to end in Honolulu, but he chose to disembark in Hilo instead.
"I encountered all possible weather conditions during these three months. Very rough seas in which I had to stay locked inside my cabin, without even being able to sleep, it was so moving, but also an ocean that can be so calm that it transforms you deeply so much it fills you with tranquility," Derreumaux said in a press release. "I experienced moments of pure magic when all the elements came together: calm of the sea, calm of the currents, calm of the winds, and the visit in the middle of nowhere of a bird."
