Every second at rest is a second closer to hypothermia. Even his feedings must be chugged in motion. Bagpipes!įarrier is not supposed to stop for anything. There, on the top deck of The Bottom Scratcher, stands the boat’s captain. “If it hurts this much now,” he is thinking, “how can I do this another five hours?”Īnd that’s when the first light of day spills over the horizon and a strange new sound stops him in his tracks. His body has depleted the easy energy stores and is scavenging for more. He’s now into what are called the doldrums, or the dark period every channel swimmer faces. The pre-dawn light can’t come fast enough. This time, however, whatever is at Farrier’s heels disappears. He’s thinking mako – the fastest shark in the ocean and much more likely to attack from behind. Elliott’s radar now places Farrier, out there splashing in the dark.įarrier, however, is not thinking great white. The photo was taken 10 miles off the coast of Long Beach – almost exactly where Capt. He yells to a kayaker to drop back and take a look.Įighteen hours earlier, another crew on another boat snapped a photo of a 14-foot great white shark.
In the night.įarrier feels it nudge his feet. His arms might as well be attached to cinderblocks.Īnd as Livesay jumps in, Farrier sees his eyes go wide.
Invited family and friends going back to childhood.īy the time Bill Livesay stands on deck of the boat that’s next to Farrier on this trip, ready to take his turn as Farrier’s pace swimmer, Farrier has vomited 15 times. Gathered the best support team in Southern California. Today, right now, in the dark, in the middle of the ocean, Farrier is finding out what kind of man he is – the one who quits or the one who swims.