Is the claim " the Atlantic sea surface temperatures are not warm this year, so how come there is a string of hurricanes forming" correct?

No, the physics of hurricane formation requires warmer temperatures.

A denialist crackpot posted the referenced "answer" to the prior question, so there is a logical presumption of BS, but this question here is worth asking, and doubtless James's evidence covers it.

Edit: Since James's answer -for some undeniably unique and unfathomably unusual reason- has vanished, here is the graph he showed: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/tafb/atl_anom.gif

likely a cherry pick near greenland or deep waters, not at surface where hurricanes form and gather strength