Three brothers have set a new world for rowing across the Pacific Ocean unsupported in the fastest ever time.
Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan Maclean, from Edinburgh, completed the more than 9,000-mile voyage from Peru to Australia after 139 days, five hours and 52 minutes at sea.
They were greeted by more than 50 friends and family members, including their mother Sheila, and fans as they arrived in Cairns on Saturday, nearly five months after setting off from Lima on 12 April.
Jamie, 31, said: “This won’t surprise anybody – but all I want is a pizza.
“Things got tough towards the end and we seriously thought we might run out of food. Despite how exhausted we were, we had to step up a gear and make it before supplies ran out, but now we get to eat proper food.
“Ocean rowing has given us newfound appreciation for things we used to take for granted – like going for a shower, lying in bed, or simply leaning on something stationary.
“It was the most incredible, relentless and often surreal experience of my life.
“While I might miss the routine, the solitude, the sunsets, and sunrises and so much more, right now I’m just very glad to be back on land with my friends and family who I’ve missed so much. The whole thing will take a while to sink in.”
The brothers spent up to 14 hours a day rowing as they crossed the world’s largest ocean on their custom-built carbon fibre boat, battling injuries, extreme weather conditions and a quicky depleting supply of food.
Ewan, 33, and Jamie suffered crippling seasickness for the first two weeks of the journey.
Youngest brother Lachlan, who turned 27 while at sea, was thrown overboard during a nightshift before being pulled back on the boat by Ewan.
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The boat, which they helped design and build, is named Rose Emily in honour of their sister, who was lost during pregnancy.
Ewan, who left his job as an engineer at Dyson to take part in the adventure, said: “This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I couldn’t have even contemplated it without my brothers.”
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The previous fastest time to cross the full Pacific Ocean was set by Russian Fedor Konyukhov, who rowed from Chile to Australia in 2014.
The Macleans have already conquered the Atlantic, setting three world records in the process.
After completing the 3,000-mile trip in just 35 days, they became the first three brothers to row any ocean together, the youngest trio and the fastest trio to row the journey from the Canary Islands to Antigua.
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Their Pacific row has raised more than £800,000 for clean water projects in Madagascar through their Maclean Foundation, launched with their father, Charles Maclean, following their 2020 record journey.
But Lachlan added: “We’ve completed the row but the journey isn’t over. We have a charity target of £1 million.”
Actors Ewan MacGregor and Mark Wahlberg, and Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea are among those to have backed the campaign.
