Ultra-swimmer Witvoet: 3,800 kilometers across the Atlantic Ocean

French “eco-adventurers” Matthieu and Chloé Leger Witvoet are preparing for an extraordinary project in the Mediterranean Sea: starting on November 1, they plan to swim across the Atlantic Ocean from Cape Verde to the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe in a three-month relay – a distance of around 3,800 kilometers.

The couple will take turns swimming six hours a day. Their goal is to set two world records: the longest ocean crossing by a woman and the longest swimming relay with “drift,” in which the support boat is allowed to drift at night and thus cover part of the distance.

“This is ultra-swimming, and that's exactly what we like,” said Chloé Leger. The Witvoets have already crossed the Rock of Gibraltar, swum the Seine from Paris to Deauville, and swum the Marseille–Barcelona route.

They trained for two years for the Atlantic crossing, most recently for three to four hours a day. A catamaran with a crew of four, including a nurse, will accompany them on their journey.

In addition to the sporting challenge, they want to raise awareness for the protection of the oceans. Over 63,000 schoolchildren have signed up for an accompanying educational program that offers weekly teaching materials on topics such as biodiversity and marine pollution.

(reuters, red)