Three Scottish brothers from Edinburgh made history by completing the fastest unsupported row across the Pacific Ocean, covering 9,000 miles in 139 days, all for a great cause.
We all love helping others, but how far would we actually go to provide the help they need? Most of us stay in our comfort zones and offer help that is convenient at the moment.
These three Scottish brothers went far beyond their limits to help strangers they had never met. They risked everything to bring clean water to families in Madagascar who had been forgotten by the world.
The Journey Begins
Ewan, Jamie, and Lachlan Maclean left Peru’s capital Lima in mid-April aboard their custom-built carbon fiber boat named Rose Emily. They named it after their sister who died during pregnancy in 1996.
The brothers beat Russian Fedor Konyukhov’s previous record of 162 days. They finished their crossing in 139 days, five hours, and 52 minutes.
Fighting for Survival
Their journey tested every part of their strength and faith. The brothers fought seasickness, running out of food, and violent tropical storms.
During one scary night, Lachlan got swept overboard by a huge wave before Ewan pulled him back to safety.
“A side-on wave came in out of nowhere. I had like a couple of seconds to react and it just hit me,” Lachlan said. “Took me right off my feet.”
The brothers rowed up to 14 hours each day. They ate freeze-dried meals and fish they caught. They brought 500kg of food to last 150 days.
When supplies got low in the final weeks, they had to ration everything carefully while pushing through exhaustion.
“Things got tough towards the end and we seriously thought we might run out of food,” Jamie said.
The Real Mission
Their real motivation behind their adventurous journey was helping others. The brothers want to provide clean water for over 40,000 people in Madagascar through their Maclean Foundation.
Only 14% of people in the Ambohimanirana area have access to safe drinking water. They have raised over £850,000 toward their £1 million goal.
“We want to have a positive impact on other people, that is ultimately what this journey is about,” Ewan said.
The brothers credit their family bond for getting them through the hardest moments. “Our super power is being brothers,” Lachlan explained.
The Maclean brothers show us how God uses regular people for amazing things when we put others first. Their sacrifice proves that the best victories come when we serve people who need help the most.
WATCH: Scottish Brothers Row 9,000 Miles Across Pacific to Bring Clean Water to Madagascar
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