Having reached 100 kilometres of his swim across the Mediterranean Sea, Swiss endurance swimmer Noam Yaron was forced to accept that the strong currents and unfavourable conditions would prevent him from completing his epic 180-kilometre journey from Corsica to Monaco in the name of ocean conservation.  

Back in July, Monaco Life interviewed 27-year-old Swiss national Noam Yaron as he prepared for his huge open-water challenge between Calvi in Corsica and the Principality of Monaco.  

His quest was to swim the full 180 kilometres between northern Corsica and Monaco while wearing a wetsuit but without ever leaving the water. If he had been successful, Yaron would have set a world record. 

Sadly, unfavourable weather conditions hampered his efforts. Having spent two days and two nights in the water and completing 100 kilometres – 75 kilometres of which were swum in a single day, a personal best – Yaron and his team made the tough decision to end the attempt for safety reasons. 

The Swiss swimmer had set off from Calvi on 23rd August, initially enjoying serene weather conditions, but the change was evident.  

On 25th August, Yaron said, “The next few hours are going to be tough; it seems like the wind is picking up and not in the right direction. The weather window is starting to close, and I need to maintain a good pace to reach Monaco before conditions become more difficult.” 

It was later that day that he called off the swim.  

Despite the physical and environmental challenges, Yaron remains inspired and motivated by his experience, during which he witnessed an array of marine wildlife. 

“I was fortunate to observe whales, dolphins, rays, turtles, and many other majestic animals,” he shared. “One of my goals during this crossing was to discover and share the biodiversity with you!” 

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From Calvi to Monaco: Endurance athlete Noam Yaron’s swim for change