Bay Area kayaker rescued on way to Hawaii explains what went wrong

Alix Martichoux Image
ByAlix Martichoux KGO logo
Monday, June 7, 2021
Kayaker rescued on way to Hawaii explains what went wrong
Cyril Derreumaux had to be rescued off the coast of Santa Cruz just a few days into his trip. Believe it or not, he wants to try it again this month.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- A kayaker whose 2,400-mile journey from Sausalito to Hawaii was cut very, very short is considering heading back out to sea in just a few weeks.

Cyril Derreumaux was just three days into his planned 64-day trip to Honolulu when he had to be rescued by the U.S. Coast Guard over the weekend, 70 miles off the coast of Santa Cruz.

Derreumaux says he paddled 12 hours on his first day and another seven hours the second day -- while seasick -- before he was hit with bad weather and 15-foot swells. His sea anchor, which helps keep him perpendicular to those big waves, failed, potentially putting his life at risk.

RELATED: Bay Area man on mission to kayak from Sausalito to Honolulu rescued off Santa Cruz coast

Still, the kayaker thinks he wants to give it another shot by the end of June if there's a window of good weather.

"Mother Nature had different plans for this one, it's just a first attempt. I'm going to come back stronger next try."

Before that happens, he'll have to head back out on the ocean with a boat that will allow him to retrieve his ocean kayak.

"The Coast Guard came and got me, they were amazing fantastic people. But they come for your life, so they left the boat adrift."

Once he has his kayak back, he plans to assess the damage to it and give it another shot as soon as weather allows.

Derreumaux explains what went wrong and his hopes for the next attempt in the video at the top of this story.