Today is Penny Palfrey’s press conference in Havana, Cuba. Tomorrow morning, she sets off on a 103-mile (166 km) solo journey across the Florida Strait to Florida.

The conditions she may face over the 40-60 hour swim – which appear quite favorable – are predicted as follows:

The water surface temperature is expected to be between 83-90°F (28-32°C)throughout the swim.

Friday
West winds 5 to 10 knots becoming southwest 10 to 15 knots in the afternoon. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Dominant period 7 seconds. Intra-coastal waters a light chop. Isolated showers through the day.

Friday Night
Along the coast…west winds 7 to 12 knots. In the Gulf Stream…west southwest winds 11 to 16 knots becoming west northwest 10 to 15 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Intra-coastal waters a light chop.

Saturday
Along the coast…west northwest winds 5 to 7 knots becoming south 9 to 14 knots in the afternoon. In the Gulf Stream… northwest winds 7 to 12 knots becoming south 11 to 16 knots in the afternoon. Seas around 2 feet. Intra-coastal waters a light chop. Isolated thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Saturday Night
Along the coast…west southwest winds 8 to 13 knots becoming west 5 to 8 knots. In the Gulf Stream…southwest winds 12 to 17 knots becoming west northwest 9 to 14 knots. Seas 2 to 3 feet. Intra-coastal waters a light chop.

Sunday
West winds 5 to 9 knots becoming east southeast 7 to 10 knots in the afternoon. Seas less than 2 feet. Intra-coastal waters a light chop. Isolated showers.

Vote on how many hours it will take Palfrey to swim from Cuba to Florida on the Daily News of Open Water Swimming.

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