Here's an update, Enrique has been hitting it hard for nine days. A number of those days were with a nasty headwind slowing things substantially. He even had to wait out the wind at times. As of an hour ago, he was only about 47 miles from Key West. He was about to paddle along the Seven Mile Bridge below Marathon. Here are some of the many photos from his Facebook page at
http://on.fb.me/JE7H6j .
Enrique training with his wife Kelly for the big run to Cayo Huesto. He is using a Jimmy Lewis, "Searcher" for the run.
I just spoke to Enrique by the Seven Mile Bridge by phone. What an experience and ordeal! I will let him tell his own story in the way he would like in his own time but it has been quite an adventure. He had so many problems, things he didn't anticipate and in reality some that couldn't have been readily anticipated. Constant headwinds, current, lightening storms, folks calling the coast guard, tons of sharks, crocodiles, turning black with legions of mosquitos sucking out his blood and more. Despite all the problems he said it was hard to be derailed by them due to the overwhelming beauty of the 10,000 Islands. Everywhere he looked, the things he saw were incredibly beautiful.
He did conditioning paddles of 30 miles per day in preparation but with the constant headwinds, currents, he figures he can usually do 15 miles per day max in these adverse conditions. "Weather is everything" in this sort of attempt. He had trained with a professional to reduce his normal water intake from 1 to 1.5 gallons per day down to .5 gallon per day. Despite that for part of the crossing he couldn't carry enough water for that leg. He was required to pull seven permits to camp on various islands along the way. If he wasn't permitted to land, he had to stay at least 800 ft. off the islands due to wildlife restrictions.
He was forced to wind wait at Flamingo for three days starting on Friday, May 11. He tried to cross three times, was compelled to stay in the channels otherwise he would ground in the mud. He had to reduce weight on his board to where he physically couldn't carry enough water. Looking at the 10,000 island area below Florida, there are countless sandbars, isolated channels making such a crossing in adverse winds for this section highly infeasible. Eventually after waiting three days and being told it would be another one to two days before the wind would ease by local NWS personnel, he was forced to call for a ride to Key Largo.
He resumed paddling at Key Largo and arrived just north of the Seven Mile Bridge last night. This morning he is starting on the final leg down to Key West over the next two days. Enrique tells me he needs to paddle way offshore, about two miles at least to avoid nearshore currents and excessive paddling. Amazing drive, endurance Enrique, keep at it man, more to come on his story.
Stopping for the night along the way.
There were two paddlers initially but a leak in the man's board eventually left Enrique to finish the run to Key West solo.
In the Keys
Some of life's necessities spread on a board along the way.
Enrique on the beach between bouts down the coast to Key West.
Last night's encampment.
The northern end of the Seven Mile Bridge.
About to move below Bahia Honda
Go Enrique!