On September 20, Cyril Derreumaux, 46, accomplished the first-ever solo crossing from California to Hawaii by kayak. He did it unsupported—that means he had sufficient provides to final the whole journey from the beginning. I chatted with him just lately to study extra about what it took to arrange for a visit like this and what occurred as soon as it was underway.
Outside Life: What impressed you to make this journey?
Cyril Derreumaux: I solely began paddling and kayaking twelve years in the past, beginning with small races—12 miles after which 40 miles after which longer to 200 after which 450 miles. I simply saved pushing my limits an increasing number of. This crossing was a technique to uncover life and dwell life to the fullest. I feel it’s additionally a character factor—you both need to push your limits and do these sorts of adventures otherwise you don’t.
OL: Inform me about what a typical time out on the water seemed like.
Cyril: So I’d rise up with the solar, normally at round 5:30 within the morning, and it could take me half an hour to get my meals and equipment, relying on the climate, prepared for the day. Then I’d go to the cockpit and spend forty-five minutes desalinating water—on the midway level of the crossing my electrical watermaker broke so I had to make use of a guide one. After that, I might paddle from 7:30 till midday, take a break for an hour to have lunch and take a nap, then paddle from one within the afternoon till 5:30. After desalinating water for an additional hour and a half, I’d return into the cabin after which undergo a complete routine of hygiene, taking care to take away the salts from the ocean and taking good care of little wounds. Then I’d write the weblog for the day and prepare for mattress because the solar began setting–-around 7:30 by the point I bought nearer to Hawaii.
As soon as I used to be in mattress, I nonetheless needed to get up each hour to verify there weren’t any container ships coming too near me. I at all times say the primary two weeks are the toughest, as a result of you need to adapt to sleeping twenty to thirty minutes at a time, however your physique ultimately adapts. You get used to waking up and checking the display screen of the GPS actually shortly after which going again to snooze.
OL: How did you put together for this journey, each bodily and logistically?
Cyril: Nicely, , there’s no dangerous climate, there’s solely dangerous gear. So in 90 days, I can have any sort of climate, from actually scorching to actually chilly to actually moist to actually dry. So I needed to have the appropriate gear and the selection of substances was actually essential. Solely expertise can let you know what to take.
The 23-foot boat itself was created for ocean situations. It might climate any sort of storm or actually sturdy wind, because it’s a self-righting boat. There are photo voltaic panels that cost two lithium ion batteries, and that provides me electrical energy for all electronics within the boat, together with the watermaker, my plotter, my communication satellite tv for pc. I needed to discover a builder in England who might make the boat {custom} for me—it’s nothing like the ocean kayaks which are made for going alongside the coast.
The boat itself isn’t very simple to maneuver—it’s made for going straight—however it may possibly self-righten by itself in the event you do capsize. I did must be hooked up always, as a result of if I grew to become separated from the boat it could possibly be deadly. All in all it weighed about 800 kilos.
Bodily, it’s largely the joints and tendons which are struggling when it’s a repetitive movement, however you additionally lose loads of weight—fats in addition to muscle mass. I had deliberate for 4,000 energy a day, however I needed to ration on the midway level as a result of I used to be taking longer than my authentic estimate of 70 days—however even that was 220 kilos price of weight, So I needed to acquire some weight prematurely. On the finish of the journey, I had misplaced 20 kilos, largely within the muscular tissues I didn’t use. I additionally took some Customary Course of dietary supplements, together with Vitamin D—as I used to be lined up as a result of the solar was so sturdy—and turmeric for irritation.
When it comes to psychological preparation, I did loads of various things. One is that I had a psychological coach really put together me for what situations might occur and the way I might cope. I additionally did yoga meditation and hypnosis with a guru in India to work on my unconscious ranges. There’s so many components that affect the best way we behave in our unconscious, and hypnosis will help you create certainties in your thoughts that you just don’t entry on the aware stage. For example, we did a hypnosis session for an hour the place we put me beneath after which I repeated these 20 phrases that I wished to be ingrained in my thoughts. You’re doing it…observe your guts…you’re arriving to Hawaii. After which I repeated them daily for 4 years, simply earlier than going to mattress. Then, when one thing occurred, these ideas would come unconsciously. It simply broke my worry of not with the ability to do it.
OL: Did something surprising occur in your journey?
Cyril: I noticed loads of wildlife. Mahi-mahi, that are the predators of the ocean, looking flying fish. And the flying fish that have been escaping would then be caught by birds as they have been flying by way of the air. After which I noticed frigatebirds and albatross in addition to dolphins and marlins looking them. Ninety days at sea, and at such a gradual tempo, I might see issues that individuals don’t usually see. Blue shrimp and squid leaping on the boat and issues like that. It was only a stunning reference to nature.
OL: What’s subsequent?
Cyril: Nicely, first is restoration, as a result of I’ve misplaced loads of muscle mass. I’m 46, so I must rebuild that over the subsequent six months and work on flexibility and mobility. I’ve misplaced loads of that. So it’s going to be yoga and low-impact actions like swimming and biking. And after that, I’ve bought a bucket record that’s overflowing already. So I need to choose one factor in there and simply do it, however I can’t say—in any other case my girlfriend’s gonna kill me.
