Scottish Brothers Break Record with Epic 9,000-Mile Pacific Ocean Row

Wed Oct 22 2025 11:30:06 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

After nearly five months at sea battling storms and exhaustion, three Scottish brothers set a new record for the fastest unsupported non-stop row across the Pacific Ocean.

The MacLean brothers from Edinburgh have achieved a remarkable feat, completing a non-stop, unsupported row across the Pacific Ocean in 139 days, five hours, and 52 minutes, surpassing the previous record. Despite facing violent storms and a harrowing incident where one brother was swept overboard, they persevered to raise over £700,000 for clean water initiatives in Madagascar. Now back on land in Cairns, Australia, they express their joy and relief at completing the challenging journey.

Three brothers from Edinburgh have claimed a new record for rowing non-stop and unsupported across the Pacific Ocean after almost 140 days at sea.

Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan MacLean endured violent tropical storms, which forced them into making lengthy detours on their 9,000-mile (14,484km) journey 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, said they were looking forward to pizza - and a decent night's sleep.

Ewan told BBC Breakfast: It's still slightly surreal - it's going to take a wee while for our feet to touch the ground, but what an amazing reception we've had in Cairns.

Jamie remarked that the crossing had been physically and mentally relentless but added, Together we form a pretty good team, and together we've overcome this massive challenge.

The Scottish trio have beaten the previous record of 162 days for the fastest full, unassisted, non-stop Pacific row, set by Russian solo rower Fyodor Konyukhov in 2014.

Their final time was 139 days, five hours, and 52 minutes.

The MacLeans trained in the sea near a croft they have in Assynt in the northwest Highlands. Their boat, named Rose Emily, is in memory of their sister who died in 1996.

Having successfully raised more than £700,000 of a £1m target for clean water projects in Madagascar, the brothers had initially hoped for a quicker crossing, but bad weather hampered their journey.

While looking forward to fresh food and a comfy bed, Lachlan admitted he would miss nights under star-filled skies and encounters with marine life. Jamie described the adventure as the most incredible, relentless, and often surreal of his life.