Last year, an endurance kayaker required a rescue just 6 days into a 70-mile expedition. This summer, he’ll come back for more.
Only one person had ever successfully paddled from the California Bay Area to Honolulu, Hawaii, when Cyril Derreumaux tried to kayak alone in June 2021. That’s still the case now; his previous attempt ended in rescue and taught Derreumaux a few things, according to him.
Next week, he’ll paddle out for the same challenge again, intent on completing it.

SOS: 2021 Attempt Goes Awry
On June 6, 2021, a Coast Guard helicopter crew lowered a diver to rescue the stranded kayaker 70 miles west of Santa Cruz.
Per NBC Bay Area, things were not going well. Derreumaux had lost the anchor for his 23-foot boat, the anchor lines had gotten tangled up in the rudder, his GPS was malfunctioning, and he lurched with seasickness.
“As night had just fallen, it was clear that the situation was not sustainable: inability to eat, drink, sleep, communicate easily with my team ashore,” he reported via Facebook. “With my land support crew, we then reported the situation I was in to the U.S. Coast Guard to jointly explore all possible options.”
As Derreumaux ascended toward the helicopter, his beleaguered boat floated adrift in swells up to 14 feet and wind as strong as 35 knots.
He had spent 3 years preparing for the voyage.
Proceeding Again, Undaunted
Derreumaux appears to have taken the setback in stride — as a learning experience rather than a failure.

Derreumaux and ‘Valentine’ Look to Equal a Record
- Modification of the sea anchor system and its lines, as well as the rudder and daggerboard well
- Installation of a satellite communication system with an external antenna, enabling him to make phone calls and emails from inside the cabin
- Addition of custom side panels to prevent water breach in the cockpit
- Addition of a manual bilge pump inside the cockpit to back up the (primary) electric unit
View this post on Instagram
Completing the Trip
