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Three Scottish brothers have set a new world record for the fastest human-powered crossing of the Pacific Ocean, reaching Australia on Saturday after spending nearly 140 days at sea.
The brothers — Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan Maclean — covered more than 14,000km from Peru to Cairns, rowing non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific.
The Macleans spent more than four and a half months rowing 24/7 on rotating shifts.
They reached their final destination, Cairns Marlin Marina, just before midday on Saturday, playing the bagpipes as they were greeted by friends and family — who came bearing freshly baked pizza and cold beer.
“It’s been really amazing at moments, but really tough at other moments,” Lachlan Maclean told SBS News, adding that the last third had been particularly challenging due to weather conditions.
Violent storms, including one that swept Lachlan overboard, forced them to make detours and nixed plans for a Friday arrival.
The brothers reunited with friends and family on Saturday morning. Source: Supplied
They said keeping up morale was one of their biggest challenges.
“We’re brothers, we know how to keep each other positive,” Maclean said.
“Whether that means, you know, sharing a chocolate bar with them or having a hot chocolate.”
“Aside from that, the number of people getting behind this project has been mind-blowing,” Maclean said.
The trio’s journey raised more than $1.6 million, with the money going to fund projects that provide clean water to people living in Madagascar.
The brothers said keeping up morale was one of their biggest challenges during the mammoth voyage. Source: Supplied
“It’s quite a difficult thing to get your head around in Scotland and the UK, because, you know, we’ve got loads of water,” Maclean said.
“[But] It’s foundational for bringing people, communities out of poverty.”
The previous record for the fastest full, unassisted, nonstop Pacific row was 160 days, set by Russian solo rower Fyodor Konyukhov in 2014.
The Maclean brothers completed the journey in 139 days, five hours and 52 minutes.
— With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press
