Swimming from Cuba to Florida...

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 6:46 am

Would you swim these shark infested waters?

I remember seeing a video of this woman, Diane Nyad's attempt to swim from Cuba to Florida. She was so disappointed on her failed attempt.

I truly hope she completes her journey:-6

BBC News - US woman Diana Nyad begins swim from Cuba to Florida

Post by **spot** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 6:48 am

I'm glad you started the thread, I saw her on the news at lunchtime and thought what an ambitious attempt it was. She aims to arrive on Wednesday, I understand. I hope she manages it, few people could even start out much less get there.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 7:11 am

spot;1364346 wrote: I'm glad you started the thread, I saw her on the news at lunchtime and thought what an ambitious attempt it was. She aims to arrive on Wednesday, I understand. I hope she manages it, few people could even start out much less get there.

Yes, I'm trying to follow her progress on CNN on the net and on the telly.

Diana swim tracker: Watch Nyad's progress – The Chart - CNN.com Blogs

I first noticed her years ago when my school kids and I watched a video about hypothermia. She made such an impression on all of us describing her attempt to make this swim. When I googled her name, I realized that she didn't complete the journey. My heart really went out to her.

I'm very proud of her attempts and hope she succeeds!

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 8:06 am

Wow!

61 years young. go nyad!!!

Post by **LarsMac** » Mon Aug 08, 2011 10:12 am

That's a tough swim.

I hope she makes it.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 5:02 am

Oh, this is sooooo sad...Diana Nyad was forced to give up her dream...bummer...

CNN) -- Endurance swimmer Diana Nyad, who attempted to become the first person to swim between Cuba and Florida without a shark cage, was forced to abandon her effort early Tuesday morning -- roughly halfway through her journey.

Diana Nyad forced to abandon 103-mile swim from Cuba to Florida - CNN.com

Post by **spot** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 5:31 am

Putting in 29 hours and stopping because of the weather is an honorable result. If I were remotely athletic it would be inspiring.

CARLA · Post by **CARLA** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 2:33 pm

She made it half way that more than acceptable. She was in to much pain to continue still an amazing swim those waters are dangerous and rough.

Post by **LarsMac** » Tue Aug 09, 2011 4:17 pm

Well, from the tracking info I saw on the website, I could tell that she was going to have a rough time. She had drifted pretty far east, yesterday, and was still to face the Gulf stream current which would push her even farther eastward.

However, my hat's off to her, as she had more gumption than I could muster, just to try it.

Post by **spot** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 1:19 pm

She's out on the water again taking a second bite at it. I do hope she gets it, that would be a wonderful result.

BBC News - Diana Nyad begins Cuba to US swim on second attempt

Post by **LarsMac** » Sat Sep 24, 2011 2:15 pm

Last news I found, she got into a bunch of Portuguese Man 'O' War, and took some stings.

I hope she can keep going.

Those things hurt, and can cause a lot of problems.

Sounds like she is on a better track, this time, as well.

Kathy Ellen · Post by **Kathy Ellen** » Sun Sep 25, 2011 12:38 pm

Bummer....looks like this woman just catch a break. She must be so heartbroken. Diana had to end swim due to the string from the Portuguese Man O'War. Such a pity !!!!

Diana Nyad: Ending Swim Was 'Huge Disappointment' - ABC News

Post by **LarsMac** » Mon Sep 26, 2011 7:47 am

She deserves a lot of respect for even trying that swim.

And to carry on after the stings as long as she did.

Post by **spot** » Sun Aug 19, 2012 2:14 pm

Good lord she's off again.

Admirably persistent. Maybe whoever's President next year could award her a medal.

BBC News - US woman Diana Nyad attempts Cuba to Florida swim

CARLA;1364540 wrote: those waters are dangerous and rough.
Me too.

Post by **spot** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 9:25 am

She's a brave woman, I hope she gets a medal but I also hope she stays on dry land from now on.

BBC News - US swimmer Diana Nyad halts Cuba to Florida attempt

flopstock · Post by **flopstock** » Tue Aug 21, 2012 3:58 pm

It's a sad day when someone who has been through as much as she has looks that much better than me.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:21 am

flopstock;1401713 wrote: It's a sad day when someone who has been through as much as she has looks that much better than me.

I don't know, she looks like a big ole bass lure to me.

Post by **spot** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:27 am

YZGI;1401764 wrote: I don't know, she looks like a big ole bass lure to me.

You'd need an impressive breaking strength if you threw the Flopster out as bait too, lord knows what sort of beast might take a fancy to her.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:38 am

spot;1401772 wrote: You'd need an impressive breaking strength if you threw the Flopster out as bait too, lord knows what sort of beast might take a fancy to her.

Your idea, not mine..

Post by **spot** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:41 am

YZGI;1401780 wrote: Your idea, not mine..

I refer to the weight of the beast, you brute, not the weight of the attractant.

YZGI · Post by **YZGI** » Wed Aug 22, 2012 10:53 am

spot;1401781 wrote: I refer to the weight of the beast, you brute, not the weight of the attractant.

Who brought weight into it? Oh, that's right you did. Fish a little deeper my friend.

Týr · Post by **Týr** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 11:08 am

My word she's at it again. This is her fifth shot. She perseveres. It'll be astonishing if she makes it.

BBC News - US swimmer Diana Nyad tries to cross Florida Straits

Post by **LarsMac** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 11:18 am

Gotta give her credit for persistence.

That is a tough swim.

And if the current catches her, she could end up in the Bahamas.

Týr · Post by **Týr** » Sat Aug 31, 2013 12:31 pm

LarsMac;1435149 wrote: And if the current catches her, she could end up in the Bahamas.

That's pretty much what happened to me when I tried. It was a week before I could get off my sunbed after they got me out of the water.

Post by **LarsMac** » Sun Sep 01, 2013 10:52 am

Her web page Shows her making good progress, though I think it will be a tough swim to make a Key West landing at this point.

Edit:

10:42 EDT - Looks like she has made course corrections that will get her to Key West.

She has a good chance of making it this time, I think.

GO Diana!!

Týr · Post by **Týr** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 8:33 am

Today's the deciding day...US endurance swimmer Diana Nyad is approaching Florida, on her fifth attempt to become the first person to swim from Cuba without a shark cage.

The 64-year-old's support team said she was about five miles (8km) from the shore after 49 hours of swimming.

BBC News - US swimmer Diana Nyad approaching Florida on Cuba swim

Post by **LarsMac** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 9:21 am

A couple of miles to go.

Wandrin · Post by **Wandrin** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:38 am

Congratulations to Diana Nyad!!!!

Týr · Post by **Týr** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 11:49 am

To succeed on her fifth attempt, at something nobody else had ever managed, makes it all the more satisfying.

Two miles from the end of the swim "medics had concerns about her slurred speech and breathing but they did not intervene". I'd have thought they'd be surprised at anything other than slurred speech and breathing by then, surely.

Wandrin · Post by **Wandrin** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 12:41 pm

I feel inspired to go find something at which I failed earlier in life and give it another shot.

A truly amazing and inspiring feat for her.

AnneBoleyn · Post by **AnneBoleyn** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 2:25 pm

I don't understand shark-cage swimming. How does it move at the same rate the swimmer swims? My question sounds dumb I think, but I don't know how else to ask it.

Congratulations to Diana. Awesome. Something so special that she never gave up.

Post by **Bryn Mawr** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 3:29 pm

Týr;1435283 wrote: To succeed on her fifth attempt, at something nobody else had ever managed, makes it all the more satisfying.

Two miles from the end of the swim "medics had concerns about her slurred speech and breathing but they did not intervene". I'd have thought they'd be surprised at anything other than slurred speech and breathing by then, surely.

Could they really have pulled her out at that stage? They'd have been crucified!

Post by **LarsMac** » Mon Sep 02, 2013 6:44 pm

AnneBoleyn;1435290 wrote: I don't understand shark-cage swimming. How does it move at the same rate the swimmer swims? My question sounds dumb I think, but I don't know how else to ask it.

Congratulations to Diana. Awesome. Something so special that she never gave up.

Someone had to pull the shark cage along and keep speed with the swimmer.

Nyad's earlier attempts in the 70's were with a cage. In her later attempts she decided to forego the cage.

I have yet to find a record of anyone completing the task of swimming the Florida Straight before her, even with a cage.

Here is the Sports Illustrated Article of her 1978 attempt with a cage.