Tom Robinson’s bid to be youngest to row solo across Pacific Ocean

A young Brisbane man admits his solo trans-Pacific rowing record attempt could cost him his life.

A Brisbane man hopes to become the youngest person to row solo across the Pacific Ocean, despite admitting he may die in the process.

Tom Robinson, 23 will commence his voyage next month, where he intends to row 8,000 nautical miles across the Pacific Ocean from Peru, back to his home city of Brisbane.

The risky adventure began eight years ago when Mr Robinson and his family moved into a riverfront house at Chelmer.

“I had a little rowing boat there and every afternoon I would row on the river and I would even row to school sometimes,” Mr Robinson said.

Tom Robinson will attempt to become the youngest person to row solo across the Pacific Ocean. Picture: Brad Fleet

“I started doing some rowing adventures when I was a teenager and then I think I was on the internet one night and found out there were people who rowed across oceans.

“I was just captivated, I think I was 14 at the time and I told myself I had to be the youngest to row across the Pacific”.

Mr Robinson said he’s been training and working on his boat Maiwar for the past 12 months to make this dream become a reality.

He’ll be spending close to a year rowing across the Pacific Ocean, and will inevitably face the terrifying cyclone season.

Asked about the possibility of dying out at sea, Mr Robinson replied: “There is a chance, definitely.

“It’s a solo expedition, so yeah, it’s definitely risky.”

Tom Robinson training for his trans-Pacific challenge. Picture: Brisbane River Boats

Having built and designed the boat himself, Mr Robinson said Maiwar was uncapsizable.

“There’s no risk to me or the boat and the boat can go upside down and it’ll turn itself back upright because it’s unstable upside down,” he said.

Mr Robinson plans on rowing for 10 hours per day or as long as he can.

The longest leg of his journey will be from Peru to Tahiti, which should take Mr Robinson three to four months.

He intends to then row to Cook Islands, then Tonga, before returning home to Brisbane.

Mr Robinson’s packed 250 days’ worth of dried fruit, muesli, porridge, powdered milk protein bars, and a little bit of chocolate to see him through the journey.

Mr Robinson’s journey is supported by a GoFundMe campaign.

Map of Tom Robinson's planned route