Maclean brothers’ Pacific row for clean water finishes in Cairns breaking new record
History was witnessed in Cairns on Saturday as a record-breaking row across the Pacific concluded with emotional scenes, but for the brothers involved – it’s only “half the journey”.
History was made in Cairns as a record-breaking row across the Pacific concluded with emotional scenes, but for the brothers involved, it’s only “half the journey.”
Setting out from Lima, Peru, on April 12, three brothers – Jamie (31), Lachlan (26) and Ewan Maclean (32) – completed their 140-day, non-stop rowing journey by docking in Cairns and touching land for the first time in more than four months about 12pm Saturday, August 30.
The three Scottish brothers also broke the previous record for an unassisted, non-stop row across the Pacific, which was set by Russian solo rower Fyodor Konyukhov in 2014.
The trio’s arrival was to the tune of bagpipes at Cairns Marlin Marina as about 100 onlookers cheered them in from their 14,000km journey.
Among them were friends and family who travelled from Scotland to Australia to support the arrival, reportedly cancelling and rearranging flights to match the fluid timeline of the brothers.
Their first steps after docking were wobbly, but the trio were in good physical and mental condition as they embraced their loved ones.
Despite having satellite connectivity during their journey to check in on “the real world,” it was family they missed the most, Lachlan Maclean said.
Ewan Maclean said from navigating cyclones and storms to lightning strikes, the brothers had created 140 days of memories they would never forget.
“You’re never like in the middle (mentally), you’re never just okay; it’s either you’re really, really on top of the world or you’re in the depths,” he said.
The brothers, who rowed a 35-day journey across the Atlantic Ocean in 2020, said they maintained their motivation during their current challenge through reading and watching messages of support from across the world, including actor Mark Wahlberg.
In addition to breaking the rowing record, the Maclean brothers had set a goal to raise about AUD $2m, with their current efforts totalling about $1.4m for clean water projects in Madagascar.
“It’s foundational for everything, you need clean water to live a flourishing life, to bring communities out of poverty,” Lachlan said.
“If we can hit our target, that is 40,000 people who get water for life, which is just a staggering number.”
The brothers, who had been eating fish and freeze-dried foods, said they were most looking forward to breaded and baked goods such as pizza, after being treated to fresh fruit and beers upon their arrival in Cairns.
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Originally published as Maclean brothers’ Pacific row for clean water finishes in Cairns breaking new record
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