Brothers set new record for 9,000-mile Pacific row

After almost 140 days at sea, three brothers from Edinburgh have set a new record for rowing non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean. Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan MacLean were hit by the intense tropical storms, causing them to cancel for long stretches on their 9,000-mile (14,484 km) ride from Peru to Australia During one storm, Lachlan was swept overboard by a large wave before being pulled back into the boat. The brothers, who have been reunited with their family and friends in Cairns, eastern Australia, are looking forward to pizza and a good night's sleep.

It's still strange - it's likely that our feet will touch the ground for a wee long time,

Ewan said at BBC Breakfast, but what an amazing reception we've had in Cairns.

The crossing had been physically and mentally exhausting,

Jamie said, but "Together we form a really strong team, and together we've conquered this massive challenge.

High winds

The Scottish trio have beaten the previous record of 162 days for the fastest complete, unassisted, non-stop Pacific row set by Russian solo rowerFyodor Konyukhovin 2014. Their final time was 139 days, five hours, and 52 minutes. The MacLeans spent a large portion of their training in Assynt, North west Highlands, near a croft. Rose Emily was their carbon fiber boat named in honor of their sister who died in 1996, six-and-a-half months into the pregnancy due to complications. The brothers, who have so far raised more than £700,000 of a £1 million target for clean water projects in Madagascar, had hoped to finish their journey in a much quicker manner.

We were left just with a hope to get across this ocean and raise as much money as we can.

All of the help has been absolutely insane,

Ewan said in an Instagram post that was published as their boat approached Cairns. However, bad weather hampered the last stretch of their journey, with high winds overnight on Thursday and Friday.

The most important thing on all our minds, aside from seeing family and our friends, is a newly made bed with fresh linen sheets and a shower,

Lachlan said on Thursday, speaking with BBC Scotland News.

The row had been going relatively smooth before the weather became more difficult about half way across the ocean,he said.We had really consistent wind and weather up until then,Lachlan said.We had an anti-cyclone in the morning that we couldn't avoid.

Lachlan was washed overboard during the 36-hour storm in July. During 40-mph (64 km/h) winds and 6m (20ft) waves, the 27-year-old said he was lucky to be tied to the boat by a safety line. He was pulled along behind the ship before Ewan, 33, was able to assist him in getting him back to board.

I was going into the cabin when this rogue wave appeared from the side, and I had no time to react and was was washed overboard,Lachlan told BBC Breakfast.It's been scary, but I'm not going to lie.

The brothers were forced to abandon a land in Brisbane later that day and were forced into a detour around the tiny New Caledonia archipelago to escape the storm. They could not land on an island to resupply or accept assistance from any passing boats to end the row unsupported. The brothers were required to carry all of their food, including 500 kilograms of frozen-dried food and 75 kilograms. They had enough food to last 150 days, but Lachlan said they started rationing their supplies in the last few weeks in the event of any further delays in reaching Australia.

We still had a reserve of military rations, but we didn't want to dive into them,

Lachlan said. They were there for an ambulance, but they also don't have a good taste.

They ran out of all their supplies,

he said, was a fishing rod they had brought with them to catch their own food. Morale was a major concern for the rowers, with sleep deprivation one of the biggest challenges. The brothers, who put on a record-breaking row across the Atlantic in 2020, attempted to get at least five or six hours of sleep in blocks of up to three hours around long shifts at the oars. They loved sharing a chocolate bar or making a cup of joel.

Our superpower is being brothers,Lachlan said.You can be completely honest with each other, and we've all shared history,

says the author, who may be less likely to fall out.

The primary motivation for the fundraising was the money,

he said, and Lachlan thanked those who had contributed.

We're absolutely blown away by how it's gone,he said.Lachlan, who is looking forward to fresh food and a comfortable bed, said he would miss nights under star-filled skies and close encounters with whales, dolphins, and sea birds. Jamie, 32, described the journey as the most amazing, tenacious, and often surreal of his life.

While I may miss the routine, the silence, the sunsets, and sunrises, I'm just so glad to be back on land with my friends and family who haven't seen so much.

The whole thing will take a long time to sink in. This won't surprise anyone, he said, but I want a pizza.The evenings were strenuous, and we'd be left with food.

Despite how we were feeling, we had to step up our gear and make it before supplies ran out, but now we can eat proper food.

The days have been long, and yet the weeks have passed by, it's bizarre to think of the time we've spent out here. "This has been the hardest thing I've ever done, and I'd never have even considered it without my brothers.