Woman Begins Cuba-to-Florida Swim

MIAMI —  Fighting choppy seas, Susie Maroney entered the water off Havana early Saturday in her bid to become the first person to swim 110 miles across the Florida Straits to Key West.

Cheered on by 200 spectators, the 21-year-old Australian long-distance swimmer took to the seas inside a protective 28-by-8-foot shark cage topped by a canopy. She postponed her start twice because of poor weather, and munched on marshmallows and seasickness pills.

In more than 50 tries by swimmers to cross the straits recognized by the Swimming Hall of Fame, none have been successful. If all goes well, Maroney’s journey should take about 50 hours and end Monday.

After 20 miles, Maroney decided to swim outside the shark cage because the waves were “causing too much water to go down her throat,” said Connie Pignatiello, president of the company that owns a boat traveling alongside the swimmer.

“My husband’s there, and he’ll protect her from any sharks. As night comes, they’ll put her back in the cage,” Pignatiello said.

To achieve her goal, Maroney will not be allowed to grab the side of the cage, touch the bottom or get on board the boat for a break.

She will survive on a diet of warm chocolate milk, chopped bananas, high-nutrition cakes and other protein drinks. She doesn’t plan to sleep, and she’ll have hourly 10-minute breaks.

It’s an exhausting swim, Maroney admitted earlier in a phone interview from her Havana hotel room.

“I think it’s kind of hitting me how long it’s going to take, especially when I’m out there and I can’t even see Florida,” she said.

But she’s not swimming solo. Maroney is accompanied by four boats, including a 50-foot Canadian tender. Her mother, Pauline, and brother Michael, along with swim coordinator Hugh Rule, are traveling with her to offer moral support.

Maroney is no stranger to long-distance swimming.

She is the current record-holder of the double English Channel crossing for women, and holds the record for the single English Channel crossing for both men and women. She has the record for the Manhattan Island race and longest distance covered in 24 hours: 58.5 miles.