The 28-year-old Swiss swimmer set off on Monday, August 11, from Calvi, embarking on a five-day and five-night sea crossing without ever leaving the water. His goal: to break a world record and raise awareness about the protection of the Mediterranean Sea.
Early on Monday morning, the port of Calvi watched a determined swimmer disappear into the open sea. Noam Yaron, 28, began an extraordinary challenge: swimming from Calvi to Monaco, covering 180 kilometres using only the strength of his arms and legs, without interruption. Five days and five nights in the water, on an unprecedented route through the Pelagos Sanctuary, a protected marine area that remains exposed to multiple threats.
This is not Noam Yaron’s first attempt. In August 2024, he tried to complete the same crossing. After two days and 100 kilometres, he was forced to abandon the effort, defeated by weather conditions and strong currents. “This time, the sea won,” he admitted at the time. Twelve months later, he returns with enhanced preparation and undiminished commitment to his cause: defending marine biodiversity.
A Record Attempt to Sound the Alarm
The challenge is not purely athletic. Noam Yaron aims to draw attention to the condition of the Mediterranean and to the shortcomings of some so-called protected marine areas. The Pelagos Sanctuary, which his route crosses in its entirety, covers 87,500 square kilometres between France, Monaco and Italy. Yet the area continues to suffer from plastic pollution, collisions involving marine mammals and industrial fishing.
The crossing also serves a scientific purpose. Two organisations — the Scientific Council of the Lérins Islands (CSIL) and the STARESO research station in Calvi — are supporting the expedition. The programme includes phytoplankton sampling, microplastic filtration and observations of large marine species. The collected samples will help assess the current state of the Mediterranean ecosystem.
For Noam Yaron, this mission is a natural extension of his personal commitment.
“I take on challenges to highlight the protection of waters and the preservation of biodiversity,” he explained before departure. Over the past five years, he has already completed several long-distance swims across Swiss lakes, including Lake Geneva. This time, however, the challenge unfolds in open sea conditions, with the ambition of breaking the world record for the longest continuous swim.
Urgent Search for a Skipper
On the eve of departure, the atmosphere was both focused and tense. General briefings, safety reminders and final weather checks were underway when a major setback occurred: the skipper of one of the support boats withdrew from the expedition. Without this second vessel, logistics and safety become significantly more complex. The team issued an urgent call to find a qualified skipper able to join the mission as quickly as possible.
Despite this unexpected complication, Noam Yaron started the crossing as planned. Wearing a wetsuit, he will spend the entire journey in the water — eating, drinking, resting and even sleeping at sea. The support team will remain alongside him throughout the swim to ensure nutrition, safety and scientific monitoring.
Noam Yaron knows that every crossing is a battle against the elements. Wind, waves and currents can alter conditions at any moment. His 2024 experience taught him the importance of constant adaptation. Yet his objective remains unchanged: to complete the 180 kilometres and, through performance, underline the urgent need to protect the sea.
The swimmer’s progress will now be closely monitored day and night. If weather conditions remain favourable and his body withstands the strain, arrival in Monaco could take place by the end of the week. Whatever the outcome, for Noam Yaron this crossing is first and foremost a message: the Mediterranean is precious and fragile, and its protection concerns everyone.
