“World’s Toughest Row” from Monterey Bay to Hawaii ends with record-breaking voyage
MONTEREY CA. - UPDATE ON JULY 12, 2023 AT 12:36 PM: Nearly 30 days later and 2,800 miles across teh Pacific Ocean, the first team competing in the inaugural "World's Toughest Row" reached the shores of Hanalei Bay in Hawaii.
They set sail from Monterey Bay on June 7 and now the four-man team of Kiwi Fondue has won in record time. They reached Hanalei Bay in 29 days, 17 hours, and 29 minutes; which is a World Record for the fastest team to ever cross the Pacific Ocean, claims the World's Toughest Row.
"They smashed the record set by 14 hours and 1 minute, unbelievable!" said the World's Toughest Row on Facebook.
"World's Toughest Row" gives update after 19 days at sea on path from Monterey Bay to Hawaii
UPDATE ON JULY 3, 2023 AT 12:36 PM: We brought you the story of teams of rowers looking to race 2,800 miles of the sea across the Pacific Ocean. They began at the Monterey Bay and are looking to arrive in Hawaii.
They provided an update on their voyage on Saturday, marking their 19th day out at sea.
"Our fleet has truly begun to find its stride on the wide Pacific expanse," said the World's Toughest Row on a Facebook post. "Most of our teams have edged far enough west, beyond the unruly seas of the voyage's initial phase, and have settled into a steady pace. A speed 2 knots is now the norm, while several are even nudging past 3 knots!"
The inaugural World’s Toughest Row - Pacific, has gotten off to a great start and racers are burning up to 5,000 calories a day. They are commonly rowing for two hours and then sleeping for two hours on repeat.
There have been Broken oars, a damaged daggerboard, and a faulty rudder, but broken and damaged spirits have not been a problem on this journey.
The Kiwi Fondue has 850NM to go and is leading all groups and Aloha Kai with 1501NM to go is leading all pairs.
To keep track of everyone's progress you can go to LIVE on YB Races, search for ‘World’s Toughest Row - Pacific 2023’.
The "World's Toughest Row" to set sail from Monterey Bay to Hawaii
Rowers from across the globe are getting ready to compete in an intense competition that ships off from Monterey just days from now.
At the Monterey Harbor, rowers for The Toughest Row are stocking and preparing their boats for the company’s first Pacific voyage from Monterey Bay to Hanalei Bay in Hawaii. It’s a new race with special meaning for some of the people competing.
The newest World’s Toughest Row race begins in Monterey and goes 2,800 miles across the Pacific Ocean to Hawaii. People from all over the world are coming together to take on the intense test of strength and endurance. Carsten Heron Losen, the executive director and CEO of The Toughest Row explained all the different types of people that will be competing.
“We have some elite sports athletes,” Losen said. “But we also have regular guys or women who just want to take off on a challenge of a lifetime.”
And how do rowers prepare for a trip like this? Rower Abel Ryan attempted to answer this question.
“Strength is a huge component of it,” Ryan said. “But there's a lot of other aspects that need just as much attention to detail”
Team Antigua Island Girls broke history during their last trip by being the first black women to row across the Atlantic and are ready to ship off on their next adventure. Samara Emmanuel, one of the team members, is excited about the tranquility on the boat.
“The nights are absolutely beautiful. The sunsets, the sunrises, the peace and tranquility that you feel out there,” Emmanuel said. “Also, I think that being on a boat without the engines you don't have the outside noise cloud in your mind. It's a space where you can reflect on your life decisions. ”
For Team Antigua Island Girls, members like Christal Clashing and other rowers in this competition, this is more than about just winning.
“When we did the Atlantic first, we didn't even realize we did it because we are very adventurous women,” Clashing said. “And I don't think we even realize the gravity of symbolism of what we're doing. We're just doing something that we love.”
Another member of Team Antigua Island Girls, Kevenia Francis, said this is their second time doing something amazing.
“We have three ordinary women doing something extraordinary again the second time around,” Francis said. “In 2018. We found the team that was the Atlantic Ocean 3000 Miles company added to Antigua and then we were invited to the Pacific.”
Other rowers in the competition like Abel Ryan said that the impact that rowing has on his life is huge.
“This one is certainly tough,” Ryan said. “But you will have no regrets when you reach the other short, really amazing impact on your life.”
The Toughest Row Teams will be doing trail races Friday and Saturday around Monterey Harbor. Their actual journey will take off June 12, and take anywhere from 30-70 days to complete.
