After Reaching the Shore: "Is There Pizza and Beer?"
A Record-Breaking Row Across the Pacific
Raising Funds for Clean Water in Madagascar
Three brothers from Scotland have successfully rowed across the Pacific Ocean in the shortest time ever recorded, completing the journey in 140 days.
Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan McClean (from left) are celebrating after arriving in Cairns, a city in northern Australia, on the 30th (local time). They set a new record for the shortest time of 140 days for a non-stop, unsupported Pacific circumnavigation from Peru to Australia to raise funds for the Madagascar Clean Water Project. Photo by EPA Yonhap News
On the 30th (local time), international media outlets including the BBC reported that Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan McClean departed from Lima, Peru on April 12 and rowed over 14,000 kilometers across the vast Pacific Ocean to Cairns in northern Australia without any stops or external support, completing the crossing in 140 days. They used a carbon fiber boat they built themselves, naming it "Rose Emily" in honor of their late sister.
When the three brothers arrived in Cairns, they were greeted with bagpipe music and enthusiastic cheers from more than 50 family members and friends, including their mother Sheila. They broke the world record for the fastest crossing, completing the journey in 139 days, 5 hours, and 52 minutes. The BBC explained, "They set a new world record for the fastest non-stop, unsupported Pacific crossing, surpassing the previous record of 162 days set solo by Russia's Fedor Konyukhov in 2014."
Initially, they had planned to reach Sydney by August 2. However, due to severe storms and adverse weather, they were pushed north and changed their destination to Cairns.
The eldest brother, Ewan (33), expressed his relief and joy at the end of the arduous journey in a video posted from the boat just before arrival, joking, "Is there pizza and beer?" Ewan said, "Since April 12, our lives have been on this boat. Our daily routine was constant rowing, catching brief sleep in cramped quarters, cleaning, eating, and fixing things that broke."
The second brother, Jamie, cited smooth communication as the key to their journey, emphasizing that maintaining a positive attitude and finding joyful moments even in difficult situations contributed to their success. The brothers also made sure each of them had enough rest, shared chocolate bars, and made coffee for each other to keep the journey enjoyable.
Through this expedition, the three brothers raised more than $1.64 million (approximately 2.28 billion won). The funds will be used through the McClean Foundation, the charity they established, to provide clean drinking water to 40,000 residents in Madagascar, Africa.
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