Latest news with #TheMacleanFoundation
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Scotsman
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Mark Wahlberg has now thrown his support behind the brothers, saying he is "inspired" by the trio and has offered to play one of them in a film.
Watch as the Maclean brothers, speaking from the 'most remote place on the planet', show what life on board their ocean rowing boat is really like - including how they give each other hair cuts. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Three brothers from Edinburgh are attempting a world-record row across the Pacific Ocean and are now closer to astronauts in the International Space Station (ISS) than to any land. Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan Maclean are taking on the 9,000-mile, unsupported journey from Lima to Sydney in an effort to raise £1 million for clean water projects in Madagascar via their charity, The Maclean Foundation. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Find out more about the Maclean brothers' challenge by watching Episode 42 of Unconventional Brits on demand now on the Shots! website here . Life on board the Rose Emily - named in memory of their late sister - involves blistered hands, extreme isolation and broken kit, but a surprise video call with a Hollywood star has lifted their spirits. Life on board the Maclean brothers' ocean rowing boat often involves blistered hands, extreme isolation and broken kit. | National World - Local TV Maclean brothers' video call with Hollywood star Mark Wahlberg has now thrown his support behind the brothers, saying he is "inspired" by the trio and has offered to play one of them in a film. Wahlberg said: 'What you guys are doing is next level. You're living out a sense of purpose - combining passion with impact. That's rare, and it's humbling to watch. People need to hear about what you're doing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'I couldn't be more inspired by the grit, the determination, the resiliency. What you guys are doing for such an amazing cause, and how hard you're willing to sacrifice yourself and your own wellbeing for the good of others, is so inspiring. "For you guys to do this under your own free will - it's pretty crazy. Some would say we might need to give you a couple of psychological examinations.' The actor, who owns restaurants in Sydney and the Gold Coast, also promised the brothers a meal at the finish line.
Edinburgh Live
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh brothers in world-record-breaking row bid backed by Hollywood star
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info A trio of Edinburgh brothers attempting a world-record-breaking row across the Pacific Ocean have been backed by Hollywood star, Mark Wahlberg. Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan Maclean still have over 5,000 miles still to go to reach Sydney but received a welcome boost when they got a surprise call from The Perfect Storm star who hinted that their story could make it onto the big screen one day. Wahlberg connected with the three brothers over faith, family, and resilience. He pledged to help raise awareness for their mission. He said: "When I was preparing to do The Perfect Storm , I went out on a sword boat — in Ocean City, Maryland, a longliner, and we were actually fishing. We caught some pretty big tuna — 500, 600 pounder. I don't know how you guys are gonna wrestle that thing onto that boat, man. Oh my gosh. 'What you guys are doing is next level. You're living out a sense of purpose – combining passion with impact. That's rare, and it's humbling to watch. People need to hear about what you're doing. 'I couldn't be more inspired by the grit, the determination, the resiliency. What you guys are doing for such an amazing cause, and how hard you're willing to sacrifice yourself and your own wellbeing for the good of others, is so inspiring. For you guys to do this under your own free will – it's pretty crazy. Some would say we might need to give you a couple of psychological examinations.' The actor, who has restaurants in Australia, even promised to have a good meal waiting for the brothers when they row into Sydney. The Macleans expect to spend more than 100 days on board their 28-foot carbon fibre boat which they named Emily Rose in honour of their late sister. Rowing in two hour shifts, they're surviving on freeze-dried meals and desalinated water. Ewan Maclean, who left his job as a Dyson engineer to help design and build the boat, said: 'It's been much harder than we expected but today we had dolphins surfing near the boat, and that lifted our spirits — and then we hear we get to speak to Mark Wahlberg, so spirits are absolutely through the roof. 'We are such big fans, and speaking to him is like a dream come true for us. It's so cool… but it's bloody surreal.' Lachlan, who will turn 28 next week, is the youngest of the trio. He added: 'We're all operating in such little sleep that we thought it all could have been a hallucination.' The brothers, who previously set three world records rowing the Atlantic in 2020, are rowing for The Maclean Foundation, their charity supporting clean water projects in Madagascar. You can follow their journey and donate to their cause here.
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 Independent
13-04-2025
- The Independent
Brothers aiming to break Pacific rowing record depart with haggis for dinner
Three brothers aiming to become the fastest people to row across the Pacific Ocean have departed on a 9,000-mile adventure, and their luggage includes haggis, neeps and tatties. Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean departed Lima, Peru, on a 14,000km, non-stop and unsupported row across the Pacific, expecting to arrive in Sydney, Australia, on August 2. Their boat was cheered on by hundreds of supporters and the Peruvian Navy brass band, while middle sibling Jamie played the bagpipes. The siblings from Edinburgh became the fastest and youngest trio to row the Atlantic Ocean in 2020, raising more than £200,000 for charity, and this expedition is considered one of the most remote and physically demanding open-water rows ever attempted. Custom-built carbon fibre vessel Rose Emily was launched from Yacht Club Peruano on Saturday evening with the brothers rowing in two-hour shifts, with no resupplies or safety boat on the 280kg boat, to raise £1 million for clean water projects in Madagascar. The departure was delayed more than a month by customs issues holding their boat and 500kg of food in port, including 75kg of oats and a menu of high-calorie comfort meals, for around 120 days at sea. The Rare Whisky 101 Pacific Row aims to raise more than £1 million for The Maclean Foundation — the clean water charity the brothers founded with their father, whisky writer Charles Maclean MBE. The siblings prepared for the expedition by moving to a croft in Nedd in the Highlands to train on the Minch, a strait which separates the mainland from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Lachlan Maclean, 26, said: 'I can't believe the buzz of leaving that atmosphere. I've never heard bagpipes alongside a brass band before, but I think it could catch on. 'We've been like coiled springs this past month. Being stuck with our boat and food held in customs could have been incredibly stressful but the team at Yacht Club Peruano gave us a place to sleep, store our gear and stay sane. Now we're just excited to be on the water. 'It's definitely daunting, but we've prepared so long that we're desperate to get going. In many ways we're a bit weird – I'm probably happier on the water. I've never been good at replying to emails, and now I have the best excuse in the world.' The brothers packed a meal of haggis, neeps and tatties, to celebrate Lachlan's birthday in June. Ewan Maclean, 33, a former Dyson engineer, said: 'We usually forget things when we're going away for the weekend, so preparing for 120 days at sea has not been without its challenges. But here we are, and we're so happy to be on the water. 'During our last row, we started thinking about how we could spend more time at sea and help more people, and this challenge was born. The more we looked into rowing the Pacific, the more we realised why so few attempt it – you have to bring an awful lot of food to sustain yourselves for that period of time, which gets pretty heavy. And it's an awful long time. 'But if we want to raise £1 million we had to go for something big. During our visits to Madagascar, we've seen what access to clean water can do — it helps kids get an education, helps entire communities thrive. That's what drives us.' Their attempt is dedicated to their unborn sister, Rose Emily, and their mother Sheila hand-painted the name on the boat. Jamie Maclean, 31, added: 'We know this will be hard for mum and dad, having all three of us isolated at sea. But they've been incredibly supportive. They've worked just as hard as we have to prepare and we can't wait to see them when we row into Sydney Harbour.' The brothers trained for the voyage with elite sport performance consultant Chloe Lanthier, a performance physiologist for Nasa and professional athletes including Rafael Nadal and Paris Saint-Germain. Their route from Lima to Sydney spans roughly 9,000 miles, depending on conditions and the brothers aim to arrive before the British and Irish Lions' third test in Sydney on August 2.
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Yahoo
Brothers aiming to break Pacific rowing record depart with haggis for dinner
Three brothers aiming to become the fastest people to row across the Pacific Ocean have departed on a 9,000-mile adventure, and their luggage includes haggis, neeps and tatties. Ewan, Jamie and Lachlan Maclean departed Lima, Peru, on a 14,000km, non-stop and unsupported row across the Pacific, expecting to arrive in Sydney, Australia, on August 2. Their boat was cheered on by hundreds of supporters and the Peruvian Navy brass band, while middle sibling Jamie played the bagpipes. The siblings from Edinburgh became the fastest and youngest trio to row the Atlantic Ocean in 2020, raising more than £200,000 for charity, and this expedition is considered one of the most remote and physically demanding open-water rows ever attempted. Custom-built carbon fibre vessel Rose Emily was launched from Yacht Club Peruano on Saturday evening with the brothers rowing in two-hour shifts, with no resupplies or safety boat on the 280kg boat, to raise £1 million for clean water projects in Madagascar. The departure was delayed more than a month by customs issues holding their boat and 500kg of food in port, including 75kg of oats and a menu of high-calorie comfort meals, for around 120 days at sea. The Rare Whisky 101 Pacific Row aims to raise more than £1 million for The Maclean Foundation — the clean water charity the brothers founded with their father, whisky writer Charles Maclean MBE. The siblings prepared for the expedition by moving to a croft in Nedd in the Highlands to train on the Minch, a strait which separates the mainland from Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides. Lachlan Maclean, 26, said: 'I can't believe the buzz of leaving that atmosphere. I've never heard bagpipes alongside a brass band before, but I think it could catch on. 'We've been like coiled springs this past month. Being stuck with our boat and food held in customs could have been incredibly stressful but the team at Yacht Club Peruano gave us a place to sleep, store our gear and stay sane. Now we're just excited to be on the water. 'It's definitely daunting, but we've prepared so long that we're desperate to get going. In many ways we're a bit weird – I'm probably happier on the water. I've never been good at replying to emails, and now I have the best excuse in the world.' The brothers packed a meal of haggis, neeps and tatties, to celebrate Lachlan's birthday in June. Ewan Maclean, 33, a former Dyson engineer, said: 'We usually forget things when we're going away for the weekend, so preparing for 120 days at sea has not been without its challenges. But here we are, and we're so happy to be on the water. 'During our last row, we started thinking about how we could spend more time at sea and help more people, and this challenge was born. The more we looked into rowing the Pacific, the more we realised why so few attempt it – you have to bring an awful lot of food to sustain yourselves for that period of time, which gets pretty heavy. And it's an awful long time. 'But if we want to raise £1 million we had to go for something big. During our visits to Madagascar, we've seen what access to clean water can do — it helps kids get an education, helps entire communities thrive. That's what drives us.' Their attempt is dedicated to their unborn sister, Rose Emily, and their mother Sheila hand-painted the name on the boat. Jamie Maclean, 31, added: 'We know this will be hard for mum and dad, having all three of us isolated at sea. But they've been incredibly supportive. They've worked just as hard as we have to prepare and we can't wait to see them when we row into Sydney Harbour.' The brothers trained for the voyage with elite sport performance consultant Chloe Lanthier, a performance physiologist for Nasa and professional athletes including Rafael Nadal and Paris Saint-Germain. Their route from Lima to Sydney spans roughly 9,000 miles, depending on conditions and the brothers aim to arrive before the British and Irish Lions' third test in Sydney on August 2.
