French "eco-adventurers" abandon transatlantic swim after boat damage
French swimmers Matthieu Witvoet and Chloe Leger Witvoet have announced the end of their attempt to swim across the Atlantic Ocean on Friday, after a failure on their support boat rendered the journey unsafe.
The couple, who began the 3,800-kilometer (2,361-mile) relay swim from Cape Verde to the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe on October 31, shared the news on their Instagram accounts, explaining that a snapped cable connecting the boat's tiller and rudders had left the vessel unable to safely follow the swimmers.
Despite attempts over 24 hours to repair the damage and test alternatives, they said the failure forced them to call off the record-setting challenge after just 13 days at sea.
The expedition was part of the couple's broader mission to raise awareness about ocean conservation, with more than 100,000 schoolchildren following along through "Ocean at School," an educational program featuring lesson plans, videos, and live updates on the swimmers' journey.
@CHLOE LE CALVEZ / SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE VIA REUTERS
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