Latest news with #MacLeanFoundation
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Scottish brothers on world record bid now closer to astronauts than humans on earth
Scottish brothers who are attempting a world-record-breaking row across the Pacific Ocean are now officially closer to astronauts on board the International Space Station than they are people on Earth. Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean are 40 days into their 9,000 mile journey from Lima in Peru to Sydney, Australia and are bidding to become the fastest team to row the Pacific and raise £1 million for clean water projects in Madagascar via their charity, The Maclean Foundation. Right now, they are approximately 2,700 nautical miles from Lima and the nearest inhabited land to them is Marquesas Island in French Polynesia, 1,150NM away. It means the International Space Station, which orbits around 400km above sea level, is currently closer to them than any human on Earth. The brothers are at third of the way through their journey and have reached a major milestone, day 35. That is how long it took them to complete their row of the Atlantic in 2020, which earned them three world records. 'We've officially reached the middle of nowhere,' said Ewan, a former Dyson engineer who's spent much of the trip wrestling with a broken auto helm. READ MORE: Atlantic-conquering brothers take to The Minch ahead of Pacific row Scots brothers' record-breaking Pacific row back on track after customs delay Scottish knitting expert to take on world's toughest row for charity 'It's been a grind to get here — this row has been much tougher than any of us anticipated. And if the auto helm issues don't sort themselves, we might be out here for another 150 days. Breaking it into tiny milestones has been important psychologically. 'We knew it would be monotonous. But there have definitely been stretches that felt like a never-ending purgatory: rowing in the same beam-on conditions, day after day. 'That being said, we're incredibly lucky to be doing this, just so fortunate to have this incredible once in a lifetime opportunity. It's type two fun, but that's still fun. The messages we've received from home have kept us going through our hardest points and morale is very high right now. We're doing it.' The brothers, from Edinburgh, are doing the row on their 28-foot carbon fibre boat named after their late sister Rose Emily. They take it in shifts around the clock and are fighting 30-foot waves and temperatures above 30 degree Celcius. With no engine, no sail and no support crew, they are surviving on rehydrated meals, desalinated water and the occasional square of chocolate. 'We're not great at being uncomfortable,' said Lachlan, 26, who will celebrate his birthday on June 9. 'We're just naive enough to start and stubborn enough to finish. The brothers are attempting to row across the pacific (Image: MacLean Foundation) 'We've had dolphins surfing off the bow, whales breaching metres from the boat, and waves soaking everything just as we get dry. It's brutal, brilliant, and bizarre in equal measure. Sometimes the lows are unavoidable, but they always pass. Looking for the positives goes a long way out here. 'Would I get off the boat tomorrow if I could? Genuinely, I don't think I would. Even though it's been achingly hard, we're drawn to what lies in the uncharted waters beyond 35 days at sea.' Despite the discomfort — including salt sores, mental fog, and rowing blisters on top of blisters — they've found moments of joy. From impromptu jam sessions to tending a mini lettuce garden planted in a repurposed Tupperware box, morale remains afloat. Jamie, who is also nursing a burn from cooking on board, said: 'It's the little things. At times it's tough. Same weather. Same food. Same crap rowing. Same crap company. Terrible sleep. Then do it again. And again. And again, I've found solace inside my Tupperware box. I've always enjoyed the process of planting things. I remember being immensely proud of my carrot patch at Steiners – the fantastic and somewhat alternative school I attended for most of my childhood. 'I draw so much hope from planting seeds. The potential of what those little things can become never ceases to amaze me. Time will tell if we see any life from this odd-looking lunch box, but it's been a welcome distraction to the afternoon slump. Fishing has been another highlight and I daydream of tuna steaks and a crisp, fresh side salad.' The brothers expect to be at sea for another 70 to 80 days. Supporters can track their progress and donate to their £1 million fundraising target at
The Herald Scotland
23-05-2025
- The Herald Scotland
Scots brothers on world record bid closer to space station than land
Right now, they are approximately 2,700 nautical miles from Lima and the nearest inhabited land to them is Marquesas Island in French Polynesia, 1,150NM away. It means the International Space Station, which orbits around 400km above sea level, is currently closer to them than any human on Earth. The brothers are at third of the way through their journey and have reached a major milestone, day 35. That is how long it took them to complete their row of the Atlantic in 2020, which earned them three world records. 'We've officially reached the middle of nowhere,' said Ewan, a former Dyson engineer who's spent much of the trip wrestling with a broken auto helm. READ MORE: Atlantic-conquering brothers take to The Minch ahead of Pacific row Scots brothers' record-breaking Pacific row back on track after customs delay Scottish knitting expert to take on world's toughest row for charity 'It's been a grind to get here — this row has been much tougher than any of us anticipated. And if the auto helm issues don't sort themselves, we might be out here for another 150 days. Breaking it into tiny milestones has been important psychologically. 'We knew it would be monotonous. But there have definitely been stretches that felt like a never-ending purgatory: rowing in the same beam-on conditions, day after day. 'That being said, we're incredibly lucky to be doing this, just so fortunate to have this incredible once in a lifetime opportunity. It's type two fun, but that's still fun. The messages we've received from home have kept us going through our hardest points and morale is very high right now. We're doing it.' The brothers, from Edinburgh, are doing the row on their 28-foot carbon fibre boat named after their late sister Rose Emily. They take it in shifts around the clock and are fighting 30-foot waves and temperatures above 30 degree Celcius. With no engine, no sail and no support crew, they are surviving on rehydrated meals, desalinated water and the occasional square of chocolate. 'We're not great at being uncomfortable,' said Lachlan, 26, who will celebrate his birthday on June 9. 'We're just naive enough to start and stubborn enough to finish. The brothers are attempting to row across the pacific (Image: MacLean Foundation) 'We've had dolphins surfing off the bow, whales breaching metres from the boat, and waves soaking everything just as we get dry. It's brutal, brilliant, and bizarre in equal measure. Sometimes the lows are unavoidable, but they always pass. Looking for the positives goes a long way out here. 'Would I get off the boat tomorrow if I could? Genuinely, I don't think I would. Even though it's been achingly hard, we're drawn to what lies in the uncharted waters beyond 35 days at sea.' Despite the discomfort — including salt sores, mental fog, and rowing blisters on top of blisters — they've found moments of joy. From impromptu jam sessions to tending a mini lettuce garden planted in a repurposed Tupperware box, morale remains afloat. Jamie, who is also nursing a burn from cooking on board, said: 'It's the little things. At times it's tough. Same weather. Same food. Same crap rowing. Same crap company. Terrible sleep. Then do it again. And again. And again, I've found solace inside my Tupperware box. I've always enjoyed the process of planting things. I remember being immensely proud of my carrot patch at Steiners – the fantastic and somewhat alternative school I attended for most of my childhood. 'I draw so much hope from planting seeds. The potential of what those little things can become never ceases to amaze me. Time will tell if we see any life from this odd-looking lunch box, but it's been a welcome distraction to the afternoon slump. Fishing has been another highlight and I daydream of tuna steaks and a crisp, fresh side salad.' The brothers expect to be at sea for another 70 to 80 days. Supporters can track their progress and donate to their £1 million fundraising target at
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Yahoo
Scottish rowing brothers aim for record-breaking Pacific crossing
Three Scottish brothers embark on a journey hoping become the fastest people to row across the Pacific Ocean (John REYES) Three Scottish brothers have embarked on a mammoth journey from Peru hoping to set a record time for rowing across the Pacific Ocean. Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan MacLean set off in a carbon fiber dinghy from Lima, aiming to reach Sydney in Australia 9,000 miles (14,500 kilometres) away in about four months. Advertisement The trio from Edinburgh, who previously rowed across the Atlantic Ocean, are hoping to raise more than $1 million for clean water projects in Madagascar in the process. "We're going to be rowing non-stop with no outside support, so we'll be on our own," Lachlan MacLean told AFP before boarding. They departed shortly after 4:00 pm (2100 GMT) on Saturday after a brief ceremony during which youngest brother Jamie played the bagpipes accompanied by the Peruvian Navy band. "One of the real challenges is the sleep deprivation. You're rowing through the day and through the night continuously and shifts," eldest brother Ewan said. "It's absolutely relentless." Advertisement The brothers plan to sleep five to six hours every 24 hours and row 12 to 14 hours a day for 120 to 150 days. "This project is all to raise money for clean water projects in Madagascar" through their charity, the MacLean Foundation, Lachlan said. "Clean water is the most basic human need on the planet but 10 percent of people worldwide don't have access to it," they said on their website. Only 14 percent of Madagascar's rural population has access to a clean water source, they said. "Ocean conservation and keeping our oceans clean, it's all part of the same parcel," Lachlan said. The brothers broke three world records crossing the Atlantic Ocean in 2020, without ever having rowed professionally, raising more than $260,000 for charity. ljc/cjc/dhw/pbt
