Three brothers from Edinburgh have set a new record for the fastest unsupported and non-stop row across the Pacific Ocean, completing their journey in just under 140 days.
Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan MacLean rowed 9,000 miles from Peru to Australia, enduring intense tropical storms along the way. During one particularly severe storm, Lachlan was swept overboard by a large wave but was saved by a safety line and his brother Ewan, who pulled him back into their boat, the Rose Emily.
A New World Record
The MacLean brothers beat the previous record of 162 days, set by Russian solo rower Fyodor Konyukhov in 2014, with a final time of 139 days, 5 hours, and 52 minutes.
The brothers, who trained in the Highlands of Scotland, named their carbon-fiber boat in memory of their sister who passed away in 1996. The purpose of their ambitious journey was to raise money for clean water projects in Madagascar, and they have so far raised more than £700,000 toward their £1 million goal.
The Journey and Its Challenges
The brothers admitted the expedition was both physically and mentally exhausting. They were forced to ration their food supplies during the final weeks of the trip due to bad weather that slowed their progress. "Our superpower is being brothers," Lachlan said, highlighting that their shared history allowed them to be completely honest with each other and avoid conflict.
While they are excited to be reunited with their family and friends and are looking forward to "pizza and a good night's sleep," they also expressed that they will miss parts of their time at sea. "I'm just so glad to be back on land with my friends and family," Jamie said. "The whole thing will take a long time to sink in."
