Matthieu Witvoet and Chloe Leger Witvoet hugged and kissed their relatives before wading into the clear blue waters off the coastal city of Mindelo to start their journey.
The couple, who describe themselves as “eco-adventurers,” are hoping to cover 3,800 kilometres (2,361 miles) to the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe over several months.
Taking turns for a total of six hours a day each, they will attempt to set records for the longest swimming relay and the longest female ocean crossing, both “with drifting”, which means the boat they will sleep on will drift at
night, which will account for part of the distance they cover.
The expedition is being followed by tens of thousands of schoolchildren across French-speaking countries who have subscribed to the swimmers’ educational program, “Ocean at School”.
Teachers will receive weekly lesson plans on ocean-related topics such as marine biodiversity, pollution, and resource management, while students will follow the swimmers’ progress through photos, videos, and live updates.
