Day 11
Today is July 26, and Ben has hit the Gulf Stream. As of 1:00 p.m. EST, their position is 39° North by 62° West, and have logged more than 350 miles since leaving Kalmus Beach in Hyannis, Mass. In the beginning of the Gulf Stream (where it is most narrow), and with weather permitting, Ben can anticipate logging more than 100 miles each day.
Ben reports that the 80° water prohibits him from wearing a wetsuit (no, he is not skinny-dipping!), but to protect from jellyfish, he is wearing a type of “second skin” suit called a Dive Skin. This is a light-weight suit of polypropylene and lycra material specifically designed for warm water divers and swimmers to protect from jellyfish.
25 knot winds and tough seas prohibited Ben from swimming at all on Friday & Saturday (7/24 & 7/25). He explained, “It was so rough out here, I was literally thrown from one end of the cabin to the other!” He also reports being a little tired today (7/26) due to the difficult sleeping conditions because of the rough seas, but he is feeling stronger after a Sunday dinner of, Crepes with a wide variety of fillings!