Solo Kayaker Cyril Derreumaux Crosses Atlantic Ocean

Solo kayaker Cyril Derreumaux has successfully crossed the Atlantic Ocean from the island of El Hierro, Canary Islands, to arrive in Martinique at 8:02 p.m. (local time) on March 4. Derreumaux completed the 2500-mile voyage in 71 days 14 hours and 57 minutes, making it his second successful solo ocean crossing. His previous voyage saw him crossing the Pacific Ocean from Monterey, California, to Hilo, Hawaii, in 2022.

Derreumaux made the voyage aboard Valentine, the same 23-ft-long cabin-style Ocean Kayak that took him safely across the Pacific in 2022. He is now the first person to have crossed two oceans in a kayak, solo, unsupported, and 100% human-powered.

“What a joy to finally arrive in Martinique!” Derreumaux exclaimed upon his arrival. “I’m overjoyed to be finishing this crossing on French soil, and on a Carnival night to top it off! This last day was exhausting; it begins at 3 a.m. this morning and ends here in Le Marin, where I made landfall in the early evening. It was full of extreme emotions, with my support team meeting me at sea to help me cross Martinique’s southern pass, which is blocked by an exceptional current vein, the Martiniquais welcoming me on the pontoon with sweet treats to share, and the spontaneous discussions with many walkers who witnessed my landing. During my crossing, I received a huge number of messages of support from friends and family, partners, the Clubhouse association I support, supporters and anonymous people from all over the world, and I’m sure I’ll receive many more in the coming days. Thank you all for giving me so much energy to go forward day after day!”

The ocean crossing is yet another notch in this adventurer’s belt. In 2016, Derreumaux was one of the rowers who set a Guinness Book record for the fastest Pacific Ocean crossing from California to Hawaii by a four-person crew. He then set a record for his solo, unassisted, human-powered (no wind propulsion) kayak voyage from California to Hawaii in 2022.

As one can imagine, the voyage wasn’t all sunsets and cocktails (we doubt there were any cocktails at all). The early days required the kayaker to draw on his experience and determination to endure seasickness, lack of sleep, change of rhythm, the intense physical effort, changed diet, constant humidity, salty atmosphere … and that’s not all. The weather and currents would often conspire to see Valentine moving “two steps forward during days of paddling, and one step back, to the north or south with the kayak’s natural drift during the night.”

Derreumaux’s only companions at sea were the seabirds and fish, including tuna and sharks. He did, however, receive frequent messages of support from family, friends, his shore team and followers afar. He also kept in contact with a fellow solo ocean voyager named Gabor who left the Canaries on the same day to cross the Atlantic in a canoe. “I’ve never met him,” Derreumaux wrote on his blog, “and I don’t know his surname. I do know that he’s Hungarian and that he’s a badass!”

Derreumaux kept a log of his voyage, which has been shared on his website and social media pages. You can read about his journey here.