A world-class kayak now anchors a world-class story right here in Sausalito. Step inside the Bay Model Visitors Center and you’ll find Valentine—the 23-foot carbon-fiber craft that twice carried adventurer Cyril Derreumaux across entire oceans—gleaming beneath the museum lights. Thanks to a nimble crew of Sea Trek friends who literally tilted a trailer on its side to squeeze her through the doors, Valentine will call the Bay Model home for the next few years, inviting every paddler, dreamer, and curious kid to stand inches from a piece of Guinness-record history.
Meet Cyril: three ocean crossings, three Guinness World Records—and counting
Cyril is a French-American polyglot, ultra-endurance athlete, and self-described “citizen of the world.” This spring he notched his third Guinness World Record, becoming the first human to solo-kayak both the Pacific and the Atlantic Oceans.
- 2016 – Fastest Mid-Pacific Row (Team of 4). As skipper of a four-man crew in the Great Pacific Race, Cyril rowed from California to Hawai‘i in just 39 days, claiming the speed record for that route.
- 2022 – First Solo, Unsupported Kayak Pacific Crossing. After 91 days and 2,800 nautical miles from Monterey to Hilo, he stepped ashore with the first fully human-powered Pacific kayak crossing on record.
- 2025 – Fastest Solo Kayak Atlantic Crossing (East-to-West). Launching from El Hierro in the Canary Islands, Cyril paddled and pedaled 4,600 km to Martinique in 71 days 14 hours, earning a fresh plaque in the Guinness annals.
Inside Valentine: the little ship that could
Rob Feloy’s Devon boat shed produced only one example of this design, and Cyril packed it with cutting-edge tech:
- Enclosed cabin for sleep and storm shelter
- Solar array + lithium batteries to power navigation, communications, and a water-maker
- Custom pedal-drive so he could keep moving when paddling muscles needed a break
- Full carbon core & redundant safety systems—strength first, speed second
Named after his sister, Valentine became Cyril’s floating home for more than 160 combined days at sea.
Sea Trek & Cyril: a community that breeds big dreams
When he’s not chasing horizons, Cyril is right here in Sausalito: guiding surf-ski sessions, sharing tales at post-paddle coffee chats, and firing up the next generation of watermen and waterwomen. “Talk to him for 15 minutes and you’re inspired to embark on a journey you didn’t think possible,” says Sea Trek CEO Galen Licht.
That spirit of possibility made the Bay Model installation feel less like a museum move and more like a homecoming—Sea Trek guides, customers, and old expedition buddies swapping wrenches and jokes to usher Valentine indoors.
Plan Your Visit & Paddle With Us
- See the exhibit: Bay Model Visitors Center, open Wed–Sat 9 AM–4 PM. Admission is free—explore this incredible model of the entire San Francisco Bay before exploring Valentine in person.
- Paddle Cyril’s backyard: Book a Scenic Sausalito Tour or a high-tempo Surfski Clinic and trace the very waters where Cyril trains.
From ocean-crossing epics to after-work paddles, Cyril’s story reminds us that big adventures are born in small harbors—and Sea Trek is thrilled to be part of the voyage. Come visit, get inspired, and launch your own chapter on the water.
