After 30 hours of swimming, the 28-year-old Swiss swimmer has already covered more than 60 km. Despite a night troubled by wind and currents, he keeps on track in his 180 km challenge to raise awareness for the protection of the Mediterranean Sea.
On Monday, August 11, 2025, at 8 a.m., Noam Yaron set off from Calvi to swim to Monaco. Sixteen hours later, he had already covered more than 45 km. By 9 a.m. on Tuesday, the first third of the course had been completed.
The swimmer maintains a positive mindset. His pace is precise: every thirty minutes, an active break on his back for hydration; every hour, a slightly longer stop for eating. A buoy allows him to receive the necessary supplies for almost autonomous nourishment. Since the afternoon, he has been favoring a diet based on potatoes and a banana-egg-cinnamon mixture to get all the nutrients necessary for his progress.
A challenging night
Monday was spent on a calm sea. In the evening, the wind picked up to 12 knots, raising the waves. The trajectory was slightly adjusted before returning to calm. Meanwhile, the team received expected reinforcement: a skipper for the Excess 11, one of the two catamarans accompanying the journey. This boat left Calvi, performed a few scientific samples, and joined the second vessel, the Excess 14, which ensures direct monitoring.
At sunset, the visit of jellyfish surprised Noam Yaron. He equipped himself with gloves, booties, and a hood for protection. The sea calmed during the night, as forecasted by Météo France. But from midnight, a double obstacle arose: a headwind and currents pushing eastward, complicating the maintenance of course and management of breaks.
A significant moment marked that night: the encounter with a young dolphin nicknamed “Baby Flipper”. An appearance that quickly dispelled the tension, reminding of the challenge’s goal: to protect the Mediterranean and its wildlife.
Scientific collection and effort management
The coming together of the two catamarans allowed for the launch of the first nightly samples. Scientists collected plankton over a kilometer, measured the concentration of microplastics, and took environmental DNA samples to detect rare or extinct species.
Shortly after the moon rose, the jellyfish were no longer in sight. Noam was able to remove his protective gear and gain ease. However, he had to change into a new wetsuit, worn out from his numerous training sessions.
Regarding sleep, Noam Yaron attempted a first static microsleep in the morning. All through the night, he applied his hypnosis method to partially switch off his brain while continuing to swim.
With the return of the sun, the Swiss swimmer resumes his progress towards Monaco. He still has two-thirds of the route to go. The team remains engaged to ensure safety and scientific support, while the swimmer continues his effort, determined to complete his challenge and convey his message for the Mediterranean.
