Thomas Michael O'Shaughnessy Jr.

Thomas Michael O'Shaughnessy Jr. (born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina on October 17, 1956) is a member of the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame,[1] real estate agent[2] A two-sport athlete for the University of Central Florida Fighting Knights in baseball and football, O'Shaughnessy was a defensive lineman for the University of Central Florida (UCF) football team during the program's first two seasons of play in 1979 and 1980.

Notable racers since include World Champion Ryan Butcher from South Africa 2003 and 8-time Molokai Winner, Jamie Mitchell from Australia 2007.

After paddling for 22-plus hours in the relay with three teams, the boat captains called the expedition in great protest due to safety and fuel concerns.

Derek Levy, Mike Lee, and Jeff Horn, all of the Southern California Paddleboard Club, and O'Shaughnessy got back on their boards and paddled back 105 miles after only a day and a half of rest, they established a Guinness World Record by being the first and fastest to cross what is known as the "Florida Straits," from Havana Harbor to the southernmost buoy of the United States in Key West.

The 19 hours and 19 minutes were set, which is still the standing Guinness World Record for the fastest crossing of the Florida Straits.

[10] • In 2001, an O'Shaughnessy-lead team went back to conquer the BIG BLUE RIVER, paddling 112 miles in the relay, escorted by Hawaiian Tropic's 80-foot sailing yacht "Princess Sterling."

That team consisted of all-Florida paddlers; Rob Delaune and Craig Snell of Key West and Jim McCrady of Fort Lauderdale.