Kelsey Pfendler, a 32-year-old Grand Canyon river-rafting guide, has become the first US woman to row solo from California to Hawaii, completing the 2,400-mile journey in a record 44 days. She hopes her achievement inspires other women to push their limits and take risks.
Record-breaking journey
Pfendler launched from Monterey, California, on 21 May and arrived in Honolulu on the night of 3 July in her 21-foot rowboat, Lily. According to the Ocean Rowing Society International, which adjudicates ocean-rowing achievements for Guinness World Records, her time of just under 44 days is unprecedented for a woman her age or from the US. It beats the previous female record of 86 days and the male record of 52 days.
“It was very surreal,” Pfendler told ABC’s Good Morning America. “It was hard to … soak in that I had actually made it.”
Challenges and support
During the journey, Pfendler faced blistered hands, difficulty sleeping, stiff winds, and unfavorable currents, which she documented in video diaries. She also shared how she cooked, protected her skin, cleaned clothes, and made fresh water. Hundreds of thousands tracked her progress on social media.
At one point, a US Coast Guard crew pulled up to sing “happy birthday” to her. “This is so special for me – oh, my God,” Pfendler said in a video. A crew member replied, “It’s special for us, too. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for us, truly.”
Inspiration and reflection
Pfendler, a professional raft guide since age 18 who has led Grand Canyon trips for eight years, said she didn’t expect to arrive so early but “picked up a lot of speed at the very end because there was some good current going into Honolulu.” She told ABC she was in awe of nature’s forces and was scared at points, but those moments were offset by flat days when she could soak in the ocean’s immensity.
“It’s really motivating to think that, maybe one day, I will get to see another woman work even harder to do what I did,” Pfendler said. “And it would be so special to watch.”
