U.S. surfer to cross Straits of Florida

American surfer Benjamin Schiller Friberg on Thursday began a journey from Havana to Key West by stand-up rowing on a surfing paddleboard, local media reported.

Schiller Friberg, 35, began the journey at noon (4 p.m. GMT) on Thursday from Hemingway Yacht Club, in western Havana.

"This trip is to promote peace, love and friendship between the peoples of Cuba and of United States, as well as a healthy lifestyle," said Schiller Friberg to the press before beginning his journey.

According to him, it may take him 20 hours to cover the distance of 170 km (some 105 miles) between Havana and Key West, in southern Florida (southeast of the U.S.).

"I am not sure (how long will the crossing last), it depends on the challenges I will face, the waves, the wind, the currents, all the variables," he said.

Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, the U.S. surfer has practices paddleboard for 20 years.

His highest feat was in 2012 when he sailed one day, standing up with the help of an oar, in the 238-mile stretch of Yukon River in Canada, which was included in the Guiness Records.

This is the first attempt to cross the Straits of Florida paddling on a board. In the last two years, three swimmers tried to cover the same distance by swimming, but they abandoned the journeys due to several reasons, including jellyfish attacks.