< or <=

[RedPython73]

This is only something small but, I think line 17 should read while trials < cap: rather than while trials <= cap:

This can be seen by setting max to 0. There should only be 1 trial but there will be two 2

It is even less of an issue with larger values of max

[pcholt]

You should be able to test this, and see if there's a reasonable solution when the number of hops across the pond is restricted to 2. There should be half the crossings taking 2 hops, and half the crossings taking 1 hop.