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It took Jennifer Figge 24 days to swim from the Cape Verde islands off of Africa to Trinidad. Though the exact distance she covered has yet to be calculated as members of her team won't compute the total distance Figge swam until after she completes her journey, reports the Associated Press.
The 56 year old American swimmer swam up to eight hours a day inside a cage to protect her from marine predators and rested overnight on the boat accompanying her. Crew members would throw bottles of energy drinks as she swam; if the seas were too rough, divers would deliver them in person. At night Figge ate meat, fish and peanut butter, replenishing the estimated 8,000 calories she burned a day.
Although Jennifer Figge had originally planned to swim to the Bahamas, inclement weather conditions forced her to change course to Trinidad; a 1,000 mile tangent differing greatly from her stated course. According to the AP, Figge plans to continue her odyssey, swimming from Trinidad to the British Virgin Islands, where she expects to arrive in late February.
When asked what inspired her to attempt such a crossing Figge stated that she got the idea in the early 1960’s when a stormy trans-Atlantic flight got her thinking she could don a life vest and swim the rest of the way if needed. Before attempting the crossing the 56 year old trained for months in an outdoor pool amid snowy blizzards.
According to the swimmer throughout the journey she spotted a pod of pilot whales, several turtles, dozens of dolphins, plenty of Portuguese man-of-war, but thankfully no sharks.
Jennifer Figge's accomplishment comes a decade after a French swimmer, Benoit Lecomte, made the first known solo trans-Atlantic swim covering 4,000 miles in 73 days.
By: Alberto Ramos Cordero
Posted February 8th, 2009 by Alberto
