Nyad swims into the night

Long-distance swimmer Diana Nyad was swimming in the dark somewhere between Cuba and Florida Sunday night, her Web site said. Nyad, 62, had traveled 27.72 miles after being in the water for just over 26 hours as of 5:50 p.m. EDT. A posting on her Web site said she was swimming "at a consistent 50 strokes per minute." "She is very alert and has told the team that the last 45 minutes felt like her best yet," the statement said. "The Voyager crew reports that after a rough first night, she is currently savoring ideal conditions yet preparing for the coming hours, should Mother Nature decide to get moody." Another posting at 7:43 p.m. EST, 28 hours into her swim, stated her support staff were making preparations to try to protect Nyad from jellyfish that rise to the surface at night. Nyad began her attempt to swim the 103 miles from Cuba to Florida without the protection of a shark cage on Saturday. Her try last year ended after 41 hours in the water after she was stung by jellyfish. The noted long-distance swimmer, who turns 63 Wednesday, once swam around the island of Manhattan (1975) and 102 miles from the Bahamas to Florida (1979).