Kelsey Pfendler, a Grand Canyon river-rafting guide, has completed a record-breaking solo row from California to Hawaii, arriving in Honolulu on Friday night to cheers from hundreds of supporters. She launched from Monterey, California, in May on her 21-foot rowboat, Lily, aiming to become the first US woman, youngest woman, and fastest woman to solo the more than 2,400-mile (3,900 km) mid-Pacific crossing.
Record-breaking finish
According to records maintained by Ocean Rowing Society International, which adjudicates ocean-rowing achievements for Guinness World Records, Pfendler appears to have broken both the previous women's speed record (86 days) and the men's speed record (52 days), finishing in just under 44 days. The organization had not yet commented on her finish as of Saturday morning.
Hundreds of thousands followed her journey on social media, where she shared video diaries detailing the challenges of life at sea: blistered hands, difficulty sleeping in stiff winds, and the mental and physical toll of navigating unfavorable currents and winds. She also explained how she cooked, protected her skin from the sun, washed clothes, and made fresh water.
Personal reflections
In her videos, Pfendler's voice cracked with emotion at times, while at others she joked about her forehead hat tan line and the importance of caffeine pills. Reflecting on her accomplishment as she neared Oahu, she said, "If any part of this made at least one person feel a little bit more powerful in their own skin, I couldn't ask for anything else and I'm happy." She encouraged others to "find your own big, hard, scary thing" and emphasized that while you may not think you're strong enough to finish, "you're definitely strong enough to start it."
Background and context
Pfendler has been a professional raft guide since age 18 and spent eight years leading trips along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon. "I just love boats in the middle of nowhere," she said in one video. Her achievement comes two days after marathon swimmer Catherine Breed began a 900-mile swim aiming to become the first person to swim California's entire coast, from the Oregon state line to Mexico's border, swimming five hours daily with hopes of finishing by November.
