Scottish Maclean Brothers Smash World Record with Historic Pacific Row
They’ve done it again. The Maclean brothers, Jamie, Ewan, and Lachlan, have etched their names into history after completing the fastest human-powered crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
Arriving in Cairns, Australia, just after 1.50am BST on Saturday, the Edinburgh-born adventurers closed the chapter on a gruelling 139-day voyage.
Their time: five hours and 52 minutes shy of 140 days. Their achievement: the first-ever recorded row from South America to Australia.
The previous benchmark, set by Russian explorer Fedor Konyukhov in 2014, stood at 159 days. The Scots obliterated it, rowing more than 9,000 miles across the world’s largest ocean.
Waiting on the dockside were over 50 family members and friends. Among them, their mother, Sheila, who had flown out from the UK to greet her sons.
Jamie, 31, admitted the sheer relief he felt on landing.
“All I wanted upon landing was a pizza, calling the journey the most ‘incredible, relentless and often surreal experience’ of my life,” he said.
He added, “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.”
ADVENTURE
Maclean brothers achieve world record
A trio of Scottish brothers has set a new world record after completing the fastest human-powered crossing of the Pacific Ocean.
Jamie, Ewan and Lachlan Maclean arrived in the Australian city of Cairns on Saturday, August 30 just… pic.twitter.com/zQchG5FSga
— Grouse Beater (@Grouse_Beater) August 30, 2025
That craving for simple comforts echoed throughout their reflections. “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.”
Their vessel, Rose Emily, a custom carbon fibre build weighing 280kg, became both home and prison. With no safety boat, no resupplies, and only two-hour rowing shifts to keep the journey alive, every mile pushed the brothers closer to both exhaustion and triumph.
They packed 500kg of food: 75kg of oats, calorie-heavy meals, and comfort rations. But the supplies dwindled dangerously towards the end.
The mission, however, was never just about records. Their Rare Whisky 101 Pacific Row aimed to raise £1 million for The Maclean Foundation, the family’s clean water charity, founded alongside their father, whisky expert Charles Maclean MBE. Already, donations have soared past £790,000.
For middle brother Ewan, 33, the challenge was monumental.
“It was the ‘hardest’ thing I had ever done, he admitted. There have been countless setbacks to overcome, some leaving us lost, but we’ve always lifted each other up.
We’ve shed tears of joy and laughed till our cheeks hurt. And at times we’ve cried with sadness and with fear, but our spirits have been lifted, time and time again, by the support of so many rallying behind us.”
This isn’t the first time the Macleans have shocked the rowing world. Back in 2020, they became the youngest and fastest trio to cross the Atlantic Ocean, raising more than £200,000 for charity.
This latest expedition, though, is being hailed as one of the most demanding and remote ocean rows ever attempted.
From Hollywood to home, their story drew support. Actor Mark Wahlberg called the trio “warriors.” Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea sent his applause.
Back in Edinburgh, even residents at Chamberlain Care Home picked up rowing lessons to honour their efforts, something Jamie described as “humbling.”
The brothers are now set to rest, reunite with family, and, if Jamie gets his way, tuck into a well-earned pizza.
But their mission for clean water continues. Their journey proves that extraordinary feats can ignite extraordinary change.
For the Maclean brothers, the Pacific may be crossed, but their cause is far from over.
