American Rower Kelsey Pfendler Makes History Crossing Pacific Solo

American rower Kelsey Pfendler is basking in the glory of her historic feat. A Grand Canyon river-rafting guide, Pfendler became the first American woman and fastest person to successfully row solo across the mid-Pacific region, from California to Hawaii. Kelsey Pfendler spent 43 days, 17 hours, 55 minutes and 59 seconds alone on the Pacific before rowing into Honolulu Harbor on Friday, 3 July, where hundreds gathered to greet her. Though she is finally back on dry land, it took her a moment to accept it was over. "It was very surreal. I think it was hard to, like, soak in that I had actually made it," Pfendler told ABC News after the row. She was touched by the reception she received at the harbour. "It was very intense and just, there were so many people there and it was very wonderful.” She has beaten the existing marks for both men and women, according to Ocean Rowing Society International, which verifies ocean-rowing feats for Guinness World Records.

From Monterey to Oahu, alone on the water

Pfendler set out from Monterey on 21 May in Lily, her 21-foot rowboat, bound for Oahu, roughly 2,400 miles away. The rower is active on social media and kept posting video updates throughout the crossing on her Instagram account, @yourowkelsey. At one point during the trip, a U.S. Coast Guard crew came alongside her boat and sang her ‘Happy Birthday’. As Pfendler touched land after 43 days, she broke the speed record set by any man or woman. In a video shared on Instagram, the rower can be seen sharing her excitement at seeing land in the distance. “You can see land over there. That's Oahu right there. I can see it and it can see me. I am within visual distance of Oahu. I can even make out buildings right now,” she said in the video. “I am under 20 miles to Ala Wai Harbor right now. I spent the majority of the morning, from, like, 4 a.m. till now, which it's Pacific time, rowing. It's kind of like the beginning, where I am just getting my second wind and rowing my heart out, assisted by copious amounts of caffeine pills. But I am going to arrive at Ala Wai Harbor sometime tonight and I'm so excited. I am currently in what's called the Molokai Channel, which is a notorious piece of water in between Molokai Island and Oahu. The current's been a little pushy. It's definitely been a bit of a challenge today, but we're getting there. We're making it. And I'm almost to what's called the China Wall, which is kind of the crux point of it. And then everything will start to get a little bit easier after I get there. Yeah, it's happening,” she said as she rowed the final stretch.

The fear and isolation at sea

Pfendler described the crossing as a lesson in how small a person can feel against open water. "How immense the open ocean is," she said, describing what stayed with her on the calmer days, even as fear crept in during rougher ones. "I was definitely scared at points," she told the outlet. In one of her videos, Pfendler explained the logistics of her passage and survival on the ocean. From having blistered hands to struggling to sleep amid stiff winds, the physical turmoil was at its peak. She also had her share of mental struggles. The rower also spoke about how she protected herself from the rough weather. “The weather can be harsh on the water, especially on a boat that does not have any shade. The sun is reflecting off the water back on any bit of skin it can find. UPF gloves, hoodies, trousers and good sunglasses are the best way to combat this! Sun protection at midday and frequent sunscreen application all help to protect the skin from the harsh sun,” she said in a video. She also shared videos of how she cooked, protected her skin in the sun, washed her clothes, and made fresh water.