Australia: John Beeden, first solo rower across the Pacific Ocean

Imagine rowing over more than 7,000 nautical miles across the Pacific ocean!
Well, a British adventurer John Beeden has become the first person to row solo and non-stop from North America to the Australian mainland for more than 14500 km across the Pacific ocean.

According to Australian local media, Beeden rowed for up to 15 hours per day. The 53-year-old Briton left San Francisco on first June this year and spent over 209 days at sea.

“About fourteen and a half thousand kilometres – that’s a long way. Only ever do it once in your life,” he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Upon docking at the Cairns, the ex-Sheffield rower who now lives in Ontario, Canada, was greeted by his Canadian wife Cheryl, two teenager daughters and a crowd who had gathered to congratulate him.

He had previously rowed the Atlantic Ocean solo before deciding to tackle the Pacific ocean. Beeden had hoped to reach Australia by mid-November, but weather conditions blew out his estimated arrival by more than a month.

“Didn’t think I could go on and had to dig deep and getting pushed back hundreds of miles that you have already rowed and you have to row it all again,” he said.

His wife who felt proud of his achievement said she had a tough time as Beeden rowed at the sea but still encouraged him to go for other adventures to clinch more records.

“I kind of think it’s like childbirth because he says he’s not going to get in another boat for a while but I am sure in a couple of weeks he’ll be having some other adventure and I will have to restrain him a little bit.”

Beeden only lost 5 kg and he said his muscles have now changed to rowing muscles.