On August 30, 2025, a trio of Scottish brothers—Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan Maclean—are on the cusp of completing an extraordinary feat: rowing 9,000 miles across the Pacific Ocean from Lima, Peru, to Cairns, Australia. After 139 days of non-stop, unsupported rowing, the Maclean brothers are expected to arrive at Cairns Marlin Marina, marking the end of one of the most grueling and ambitious open-water challenges ever undertaken.
The brothers, hailing from Edinburgh, set out on April 12, 2025, with the goal of becoming the fastest team to row the full Pacific Ocean while raising £1 million for clean water projects in Madagascar through their charity, The Maclean Foundation. Despite facing violent storms, exhaustion, and unforeseen delays, their journey has captured global attention and inspired support from celebrities and communities alike.
A Record-Breaking Journey Across the Pacific
The Maclean brothers’ Pacific row is a testament to human endurance and determination. Setting off from Yacht Club Peruano in Lima, Peru, the trio embarked on their 9,000-mile journey aboard their custom-built, 280kg carbon fibre vessel, Rose Emily. The boat, designed with technology inspired by Formula 1 engineering, was built to withstand the harsh conditions of the Pacific, including the ability to self-right if capsized. The brothers rowed in two-hour shifts, with no resupplies or safety boat, carrying 500kg of food, including 75kg of oats and high-calorie comfort meals to sustain them through the grueling months at sea.
Their goal was to complete the crossing in 120 days, aiming to break the record for the fastest human-powered crossing of the Pacific Ocean. However, adverse weather conditions, including violent storms and an anticyclone that pushed them off course, extended their journey to 139 days. Despite falling short of their initial timeline, the brothers have claimed a new record for the fastest non-stop and unsupported row across the full Pacific, covering a distance equivalent to 343 marathons.
Their arrival in Cairns on August 30, 2025, was met with a bagpipe welcome, a nod to their Scottish heritage, as family, friends, and supporters gathered to celebrate their historic achievement. The Maclean brothers are no strangers to record-breaking rows. In 2020, they became the first three brothers to row an ocean together, setting records as the youngest and fastest trio to cross the Atlantic from the Canary Islands to Antigua in 35 days, raising over £200,000 for charity.
Have you heard of The Maclean brothers? These three fearless Scots are currently crossing the Pacific Ocean – tackling the 9,000 mile row non-stop and unsupported.
— Brand Scotland 🏴 (@Scotland) July 3, 2025
They're proving that with grit, and purpose, no ocean is too vast.#RowingForCleanWater #PacificOcean pic.twitter.com/u1q7PRykgn
Their Pacific endeavor, however, is considered one of the most remote and physically demanding open-water rows ever attempted, with relatively few teams having tackled the full Pacific from South America to Australia. The brothers’ resilience and teamwork have been central to their success, with each sibling bringing unique strengths to the challenge. Ewan, 33, provided leadership, Jamie, 31, brought musical flair with his bagpipe performances, and Lachlan, 27, the mediator with a background in philosophy, kept the team steady through adversity.
Overcoming Immense Challenges at Sea
The Pacific Ocean presented the Maclean brothers with relentless challenges that tested their physical and mental fortitude. One of the most harrowing moments occurred mid-journey when Lachlan was swept overboard during a violent storm with 40mph winds and 6m waves.
Attached to the boat by a safety line, he was dragged behind Rose Emily before Ewan managed to pull him back on board. Lachlan later described the incident as one of the scariest experiences of his life, emphasizing the lack of second chances in such extreme conditions. The storm, which raged for 36 hours, was just one of many setbacks the brothers faced, including exhaustion, sickness, and fears of running out of food as their journey extended beyond the planned 120 days.
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The brothers’ self-sufficiency added to the challenge. With no support from third parties, they relied entirely on their provisions and the durability of their vessel. The 500kg of food they carried was carefully planned to provide the high-calorie intake needed for the intense physical demands of rowing.
Oats, a staple of their diet, provided a reliable energy source, while comfort meals helped maintain morale during the long, monotonous days at sea. The psychological toll of being confined to a small boat for nearly five months was immense, with the brothers navigating not only the ocean but also the dynamics of sibling relationships under extreme stress.
Celebrity support provided a significant morale boost. Actor Mark Wahlberg, who called the brothers “warriors,” spoke with them twice via satellite phone, even suggesting their story deserved a film. Michael “Flea” Balzary, the bassist for Red Hot Chili Peppers, also connected with the brothers, drawing parallels between their experience and the challenges of band life on tour buses.
Flea’s encouragement, rooted in his Melbourne background, resonated deeply, reminding the brothers of the “magical” moments of unity amidst hardship. Back in Edinburgh, residents at Chamberlain Care Home took up rowing lessons in solidarity, an act Jamie described as “humbling.” These gestures of support from around the world helped the brothers persevere through moments of doubt and fear.
A Mission for Clean Water in Madagascar
Beyond the pursuit of world records, the Maclean brothers’ Pacific row is driven by a profound purpose: raising £1 million for clean water projects in Madagascar through The Maclean Foundation, which they founded with their father, whisky writer Charles Maclean MBE, in 2023.
Madagascar, where only 10% of the rural population has access to clean water, faces significant challenges in water access and sanitation. The brothers’ initiative, named the Rare Whisky 101 Pacific Row, aims to fund projects that could bring structural change to entire communities, using clean water as a catalyst for improving health, education, and economic opportunities.
As of August 2025, the brothers have raised over £700,000, a significant step toward their goal. The funds will be channeled through their trusted partner charity, Feedback Madagascar, to support sustainable water projects. Lachlan, who manages The Maclean Foundation, has emphasized the transformative potential of their efforts, noting that £1 million could impact not just individual communities but an entire region. The brothers’ passion for adventure is matched by their commitment to making a positive impact, blending their love for extreme challenges with a mission to address global inequalities.
The Maclean brothers’ journey has not only raised funds but also awareness about the global water crisis. Their story has inspired people worldwide, from the hundreds of supporters who cheered them off in Peru to the celebrities and communities rallying behind them. The bagpipe send-off by Jamie in Lima, accompanied by the Peruvian Navy brass band, symbolized the global goodwill surrounding their mission.
As they stepped ashore in Cairns, the brothers expressed being “over the moon” to reunite with family and friends, but their focus remained on the lives they hope to change in Madagascar. Ewan reflected on the journey’s difficulty, stating, “This has been the hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I couldn’t have even contemplated it without my brothers.” The collective support, both emotional and financial, has been a driving force behind their success.
The Maclean brothers’ 139-day row across the Pacific Ocean is a remarkable story of courage, resilience, and purpose. From the treacherous storms that tested their survival to the overwhelming support from global communities, their journey encapsulates the power of human determination and collective goodwill.
By rowing 9,000 miles non-stop and unsupported, Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan have not only claimed a world record but also brought the world closer to their mission of providing clean water to Madagascar. As they celebrate their arrival in Cairns, their legacy extends beyond the physical distance they’ve covered—it lies in the hope and change they’ve inspired for communities thousands of miles away. The Maclean brothers’ story is a reminder that even the most daunting challenges can be overcome with teamwork, perseverance, and a commitment to a greater cause.