By Olivier Acuña Barba •
Published: 31 Aug 2025 • 22:14
• 2 minutes read
They rowed nonstop for over 139 days across more than 9,000 miles from Peru to Australia | Credit: @themacleanbrothers/Instragram
What a fantastic feat it is, and for a noble, selfless act to provide water for 40,000 people in Madagascar, a country where only 14 per cent of the population has access to potable water. The three brothers, Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan Maclean, from Edinburgh, have set a new world record for rowing across the Pacific Ocean unsupported, in the fastest time ever, by rowing more than 9,000 miles from Peru to Australia in 139 days, 5 hours, and 52 minutes.
They were greeted by more than 50 friends and family members, including their mother Sheila, and fans as they arrived in Cairns on Saturday, nearly five months after setting off from Lima on April 12. Upon touching land after over three months, Jamie, 31, said: “This won’t surprise anybody, but all I want is a pizza.” As could be expected, Jaimie explained that “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,” he added. “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. It was the most incredible, relentless and often surreal experience of my life.”
The sibling trio made the audacious decision to row across the Atlantic Ocean, achieving three world records in the process. They completed the 3,000-mile journey in just 35 days, becoming the first trio of brothers to row any ocean together and the youngest and fastest trio to cross from the Canary Islands to Antigua. Once back on dry land, they realised their mission for clean water was not over and concluded that the best way to promote the cause was to go one step further and “take on the biggest body of water on the planet,” they told CNN on their 101st day at sea.
Securing clean water for Madagascarians
Their family-run, non-profit organisation, The Maclean Foundation, works to secure clean water for communities through partnering with organisations in Madagascar to build boreholes.
The Pacific Challenge aims to raise awareness and funding to build boreholes for the entire Ambohimanarina municipality in Madagascar, where currently only 14 per cent of the population has access to safe, clean drinking water. The brothers aim to provide clean water to over 40,000 people.
“We want to have a positive impact on other people, that is ultimately what this journey is about,” Ewan previously told CNN. “Seeing the donations come in and the messages of support have really helped us through some pretty bleak times.”
The Maclean’s mission continues, so far having raised £850,859 ($1.15 million) of their £1 million ($1.35 million) target for their latest ocean crossing.
