3 Scottish brothers set world record for fastest Pacific row
Three Scottish brothers have achieved a remarkable feat by setting a new world record for completing the fastest unsupported row across the entire Pacific Ocean. Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan Maclean completed the challenging journey in 139 days, reaching Cairns, Australia after rowing over 9,000 miles non-stop from Peru. This achievement makes them the first team to successfully complete the full crossing from South America to Australia.
Throughout their journey, the trio from Edinburgh faced numerous obstacles including storms, seasickness, injuries, and even a terrifying moment when Lachlan was swept overboard. Despite these challenges, they managed to raise over £700,000 ($945,690) towards their goal of £1 million ($1,350,450) for clean water projects.
The Maclean brothers were welcomed into Cairns Marlin Marina with a heartwarming reception, playing the bagpipes and proudly waving the Scottish, Australian, and United Kingdom flags. Their arrival was met with cheers from more than 50 family members, supporters, and fans, including their mother Sheila.
In anticipation of their arrival, the eldest brother Ewan humorously requested pizza and beer over a video call to the marina. He described the journey as the most challenging experience of his life, one that he wouldn’t have embarked on without the support of his brothers.
The middle brother, Jamie, shared that towards the end of the journey, they were concerned about running out of food. Despite the hardships, the Macleans expressed gratitude for the life-changing experience and their newfound perspective on life.
Looking ahead, the brothers plan to continue fundraising efforts to support clean water projects, with a focus on helping 40,000 people in Madagascar through their charity, the Maclean Foundation.
Their remarkable achievement surpasses the previous record set by Russian solo rower Fyodor Konyukhov in 2014, who completed the fastest full, unassisted, nonstop Pacific row in 160 days.
