Inspiring Ocean Feat
American Rower Kelsey Pfendler Completes Historic Solo Pacific Journey, Breaking Multiple Records
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Kelsey Pfendler, a river rafting guide from the Grand Canyon, has rowed solo from California to Hawaii in under 44 days — smashing three world records at once, according to tricityrecordnm.com. She became the first American woman, the youngest woman, and the fastest woman ever to complete the mid-Pacific crossing.
The previous female record for the same route stood at 86 days. The previous male record was 52 days. Pfendler beat both, according to records kept by the Ocean Rowing Society International, as reported by nhregister.com.
Pfendler Shatters Both Female and Male Pacific Records
Pfendler set out in May with three goals: be the first American woman to row the mid-Pacific solo, be the youngest woman to do it, and be the fastest. She achieved all three. Her 44-day finish cut the previous female record nearly in half, according to gjsentinel.com. She also beat the men's record of 52 days by more than eight days.
The Ocean Rowing Society International tracks these records officially. Their data confirms Pfendler's marks in all three categories, wokv.com reported. No American woman had ever completed this specific Pacific route solo before her.
A Grand Canyon Guide Takes On the Open Ocean
Pfendler is not a professional ocean rower. She works as a river rafting guide in the Grand Canyon. Taking on 2,400 miles of open Pacific Ocean is a very different challenge. Ocean rowers face extreme isolation, no land in sight, unpredictable weather, and physical exhaustion, according to rutlandherald.com.
She rowed alone the entire way — no support boat, no crew. Solo ocean rowing means sleeping in short bursts and rowing for most of each day. The journey began in California and ended in Hawaii after just under 44 days at sea, lancasteronline.com reported.
Hundreds of Thousands Followed the Journey Online
Pfendler's trip drew a massive online audience. Hundreds of thousands of people tracked her progress on social media as she crossed the Pacific, according to bozemandailychronicle.com. Her voyage became a viral story of endurance and determination.
wfmz.com reported that Pfendler said she hopes her journey inspires others. She wants people to feel more powerful in their own skin. Her message was simple: if she could row across the Pacific alone, others can push past their own limits too.
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