Human-powered, lightweight wilderness travel takes on many forms. How about paddling a stand-up paddleboard (SUP) across the Atlantic Ocean? A 38-year-old French Firefighter and paddler, Nicolas Jarossay, is poised to become the first person to attempt a solo stand-up-paddle (SUP) board traverse of the Atlantic Ocean. He plans to begin his trip at Carpe Verde on the northwest coast of Africa and end at the French island of Martinique almost 80 days later. Since he was a boy, Jarossay has dreamed of the ocean, and after beginning preparations, planning, and training in 2012 seems positioned to begin this adventure.
A 38-year-old French Firefighter and paddler, Nicolas Jarossay, is poised to become the first person to attempt a solo stand-up-paddle (SUP) board traverse of the Atlantic Ocean. He plans to begin his trip at Carpe Verde on the northwest coast of Africa and end at the French island of Martinique almost 80 days later. Since he was a boy, Jarossay has dreamed of the ocean, and after beginning preparations, planning, and training in 2012 seems positioned to begin this adventure.
Watch the trailer below to learn more about the expedition:
For the moment, I will just become the first person trying to cross the Atlantic on a SUP. But I hope to have a beautiful experience, a beautiful dream if the weather and ocean cooperate with me. – Nicolas Jarossay
Nicolas Jarossay SUP Transatlantic Route: Africa to Martinique.
Nicolas Jarossay’s Transatlantic Route. Map made with Hillmap.com.
- 2,485 miles
- 33 miles per day
- 60 – 75 days to complete
Jarossay wants to complete his trip by April to avoid the worst storms of the year. He plans on drinking 8 L of water and eating 6,000 calories per day and insists that staying hydrated and eating enough are keys to the success of the route.
The rule is simple: No water, no paddling. I am still trying to find another way to provide for my daily needs of water. – Nicolas Jarossay
Planning and Preparation
Jarossay commissioned a 20-foot-long, custom SUP board that features a “sleeping pod” and storage for over 200 lbs of food. Billed as the world’s first “liveable” SUP board, Jarossay and a two others have spent “about one year” coming up with the design for his unique paddle board. He took his craft out for a 5-day test run in August where he covered 110 miles and was followed by a support team. The test revealed that the boat was not self-righting due to the sleeping pod. This is a huge issue for a transatlantic traverse where storms and lack of energy in a flip could quickly compound an already challenging solo traverse. Since his test, Jarossay has been busy modifying his craft so that it is self-righting and hopes to have the craft ready in time for his departure.
Nicolas Jarossay practicing for his transatlantic expedition. Photo courtesy of Nicolas Jarossay.
Who else has considered the route?
Many were expecting legendary SUP boarder Bart De Zwart to attempt the trip. De Zwart admitted that he has been intrigued by the idea, but could not devote the time away from his family needed for planning and training not to mention the expedition itself. De Zwart did mention that he had concerns about Jarossay’s cabin saying, “It is troubling that my biggest concern about the design is still (Jarossay’s) problem today. You cannot have a cabin on a board which is not self-righting.” De Zwart also expressed concern of Jarossay’s plan to use a hand pump for drinking water thinking that Jarossay’s energies could be better spent elsewhere if he opted for an electric system. “It is a lot of work to make drinking water from salt water and you need your energy for paddling, making food, and navigating,” De Zwart said.
Others are expecting Chris Bertish, a SUP record holder from South Africa, to attempt a transatlantic crossing but his trip isn’t planned until November 2016. Bertish’s attempt will begin in Morocco and end in Miami so his attempt will be about 1,000 miles longer than Jarossay’s.
Stay tuned. 2016 should be an interesting year for the world of SUP. Read more about the expedition here.