A new world record has just been broken which is the longest ocean journey by personal watercraft. Officially the record of “longest open ocean journey by aquabike-unsupported” remained a distance of 3,074 km since 2014. Now that record has been shattered by Lucas del Paso Canovas.
We are told the new distance is now 3,602 km or just over 2,238 miles which was achieved on a 15-day journey from Sagres, Portugal to Sapri, Italy. Lucas piloted his Yamaha VX to this new world record as part of a project called Blue 4 Green.
The project as well as money raised with the journey goes toward planting trees to minimize the Carbon Dioxide footprint. During his trip, Lucas even picked up waste that he spotted in the water. For more details on this amazing journey, check out the full press release:
Salou (11/4/19) – Lucas DPC, a tax lawyer and entrepreneur, native of Salou, received at 34 years of age the recognition that accredits him in possession of the Guinness Record referenced above, after jet skiing with his Yamaha VX the coast that joins Sagres (Portugal) with Sapri (Italy). Del Paso departed on September 18, 2019 and arrived on October 2 of the same year sailing the coast of five countries (Portugal, Spain, France, Monaco, Italy).
The magnificent mark that he has surpassed was established by the Finnish Risto Piispa, who in August 2014 drove his Sea Doo RXT 260 hp from Helsinki to Ceuta covering 3,074 km in 40 days and beating, in turn, the mark of Portuguese Frederico Rezende who in 2013 connected Lisbon with Madeira on a 963.04 km route setting the first World Record in the category.
Thus, Lucas raised the bar in 528 km and lowered the time in 25 days thanks to his tenacity, perseverance, driving technique and good state of the sea
The journey began in the most southwestern point of Europe, Sagres, an area of pleasant memory for the pilot who, in 2005, camped on a beach for 40 days with María, her sister, to start surfing, meeting the Mealha brothers, Marta and Joao, hosts of the start of the project. The route took him from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea, crossing the dangerous Strait of Gibraltar where he was intercepted up to 3 times by Civil Guard vessels from the maritime and fiscal-border departments
Northbound through the Mediterranean, after the warm reception at the Club Nautic Salou upon arrival home, the toughest stages began, crossing the Costa Brava, the Gulf of Lyon and the Bay of Genoa, points where winds and currents converge creating adverse situations for navigation. Amazed by the landscapes of the Italian coast, the end of the route was established in Sapri (Salerno), as a tribute to his favorite pizzeria in Salou, which bears the same name.
Days of up to 10 hours of navigation, 98 km the shortest and 352 km the longest, Riding the jet ski every day for 15 days in a row, collecting the plastics and waste that he saw daily during his route to recycle them once on mainland. By motorhome, Carlos Pérez Gómez (logistics) and Abel Rincón (media coverage) accompanied him, providing him with house and support at the beginning and end of each leg.
His love of the sea and the desire to do something extraordinary have been the engines that have driven the day-to-day life of the pilot in pursuit of the achievement of the Record, which he reached in Rome, the Eternal City. During La Travesía Del Paso has sighted dolphins, killer whales, flamingos and other species, has enjoyed the sun and calm sea for a few days and has suffered with dense fog and rough sea in others. Sailing at a minimum of 400 meters from the coast and a maximum of 10 km. Wind of face, stern and side, deep and full of energy caves, fishermen, large merchant ships, ports of all types and conditions, the best, he highlights, hospitality received from beginning to end by people who did not have to, it’s about the camaraderie of the navigator, wherever he goes.
Although there have been setbacks (theft of the booties on day 3, loss of mobile, GPS and other equipment) special mention requires the breakdown of the power cable of the starter motor relay that left the jet ski at the mercy of the elements, only 100 km from Rome, with the raging sea. Among the strengths of Lucas does not appear the mechanics and such a test was required if he wanted to enter the land of Gladiators. Against his own prognosis, he managed to repair the fault (investing 3 hours for this, rowing included) by entering the Eternal City at 17.50 local time.
Regarding the jet ski used on the road, it is one of the most basic models of the Yamaha factory, resistant and outfitted according to its range. The capacity of the fuel tank is 70 liters that grant an autonomy of about 3 hours of navigation. The dry weight of the boat is 350 kg. The good existing port infrastructure along the entire coastline has allowed Lucas to reach each refueling without any more problems than finding the person in charge of the gasoline supply.
Regarding the financing of the project, La Travesía has had the contribution made by the following sponsors: Jet Ski Tours Salou & Cambrils that has provided the jet ski in addition to financial support. ExpoCamping lent the motorhome that has provided roof and wheels in the adventure. Nascor Energías SL, Bercose SL, Sevitel SL, International People Solutions, Salou City Council, Estación Náutica Costa Dorada that with their contributions have defrayed the expense in gasoline, tolls and food during the route. Yamaha Spain donated gloves, glasses and a neoprene jacket as a show of support. Paleobull has contributed its tasty and nutritious energy bars and other quality products contributing to the pilot’s good shape and finally NutraDrinks brought his excellent revitalizing drinks.
The message that Lucas del Paso Cánovas wants to deliver by achieving this goal is the following:
Each of us has an unexplored potential that is inherent in their individuality. We can all do something extraordinary, it only requires energy, movement, clarity and start-up. If your mind thinks it, it´s because it can somehow be done. It must be done. In addition, any step we take must be beneficial or at least neutral for the environment. The good obtained must be superior to the evil attached. As far as we know, we have only one life. This one. Our obligation lies in developing our capacities to the fullest to, together, leave a better world than the one we found at birth.
Lucas del Paso Cánovas has a law degree from the Complutense University of Madrid promotion 2007. Tax lawyer and advisor, he parked the practice of law in 2012 in search of exploring other life options. He has worked in the US, Brazil, Australia and Spain. In 2014 he partnered with Emmanuel Cruz Lagunas and constituted Jet Ski Tours SL, a company dedicated to the realization of jet ski excursions on the Costa Dorada and which is based in the Nautical Clubs of Cambrils and Salou.
“longest open ocean journey by aquabike-unsupported”
“By motorhome, Carlos Pérez Gómez (logistics) and Abel Rincón (media coverage) accompanied him, providing him with house and support at the beginning and end of each leg.”
Hmmm… was it supported or unsupported?
I thought the The longest ever journey on a PWC (aquabike)(Jetski) is 17,266.69 km (10,729 miles), by Adriaan Marais and Marinus du Plessis (both South Africa), who followed the west coast of North America south to the Panama Canal. They arrived in Panama City, Panama, after 95 days of navigation, on 19 September 2006
The 10k journey was inland and ocean. This one was ocean. I actually just beat this record but I am still dealing with Guinness. I did it unsupported. No motorhome or food. Slept in a tent. New york to Key West and back. 3200 miles. July. Tom Cronin
Hi Tom,
The 10k was on ocean only, but since we were 2 riders it is not considered as unsupported although we had no land support.